Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published between 1776 and 1788, is the undisputed masterpiece of English historical writing which can only perish with the language itself. Its length alone is a measure of its monumental quality: seventy-one chapters, of which twenty-eight appear in full in this edition. With style, learning and wit, Gibbon takes the reader through the history of Europe from the second century AD to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 – an enthralling account by ‘the greatest of the historians of the Enlightenment’. This edition includes Gibbon’s footnotes and quotations, here translated for the first time, together with brief explanatory comments, a precis of the chapters not included, 16 maps, a glossary, and a list of emperors.
Key Findings
- Gibbon attributes the decline and fall of the Roman Empire to a combination of internal decay and external pressures, including economic stagnation, social and political corruption, military weakness, and invasion by barbarian tribes.
- The book provides a thorough account of the political and military history of the Roman Empire, including the reigns of the various emperors, their wars, and their policies.
- Gibbon also examines the social and cultural history of the Roman Empire, including the role of Christianity in the decline of classical civilization.
- The book is known for its critical and skeptical approach, and Gibbon often challenges traditional historical interpretations and offers his own analysis and perspective on the events he describes.
- “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” is also notable for its extensive use of primary sources, including ancient histories, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence.
- The book is structured around a series of thematic chapters that explore different aspects of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, such as the rise of Christianity, the influence of barbarian invasions, and the decline of the Roman economy.
Summary
“The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” is a six-volume historical work written by the English historian Edward Gibbon. The book covers the period from the end of the 2nd century AD to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453, and provides a detailed account of the political, social, and cultural history of the Roman Empire.
The book is known for its critical and skeptical approach to the events it describes, and for its extensive use of primary sources, including ancient histories, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence. Gibbon attributes the decline and fall of the Roman Empire to a combination of internal decay and external pressures, including economic stagnation, social and political corruption, military weakness, and invasion by barbarian tribes.
The first volume of the book covers the period from the reign of the Antonine emperors to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. It explores the military, political, and social history of the Roman Empire during this period, and includes detailed accounts of the reigns of various emperors, such as Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine.
The second volume of the book covers the period from the reign of Constantine to the end of the Western Roman Empire. It explores the role of Christianity in the decline of classical civilization, and provides a detailed account of the political and military history of the Roman Empire during this period.
The third and fourth volumes of the book cover the period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the reign of Justinian in the Eastern Roman Empire. They explore the influence of barbarian invasions, the rise of the Byzantine Empire, and the decline of the Roman economy.
The fifth and sixth volumes of the book cover the period from the reign of Justinian to the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire. They explore the social, cultural, and intellectual history of the Byzantine Empire, and provide a detailed account of the political and military history of the Eastern Roman Empire during this period.
Overall, “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” is a seminal work of historical scholarship that provides a comprehensive and detailed account of the history of the Roman Empire. Gibbon’s critical approach and extensive use of primary sources make the book a valuable source for understanding the causes and consequences of historical change, and for exploring the complexities of historical interpretation and analysis.
