The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, first published in 1776 by the English historian and scholar Edward Gibbon, has become one of the most lauded works of historical literature. It is a comprehensive account of the fall of the Roman Empire from the 2nd century AD to the 15th century AD, analyzing the various factors that led to its demise. The work took Gibbon almost two decades to complete, and it stands as one of the most influential and important works of historical scholarship ever written.

Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is divided into six volumes. It is estimated that it took Gibbon seven years of research and writing alone to complete the first three volumes. The work begins in 180AD, with a survey of the Roman Empire at its peak. Gibbon then goes on to chronicle the great cultural and political events that ultimately led to the fall of the empire. This includes a detailed analysis of the political and military rivalries of the Byzantine and Persian Empires, the Barbarian invasions, the schism in Christianity, and the weakening effect of religious superstition.

Gibbon’s style of writing has been highly acclaimed. He wrote in a matter-of-fact tone, without sensationalizing events or painting with an excessively romantic brush. Gibbon also incorporated a great deal of footnoting to provide references for his statements of fact. This enabled him to gain instant credibility amongst scholars and those interested in the subject matter.

Gibbon is also known for his critique of Christianity and its impact on the fall of Rome. Gibbon saw Christianity as having a detrimental effect on Roman culture, as it allegedly suppressed intellectual curiosity and creativity. This echoed Greek and Roman worries about certain places of worship becoming centers of superstition, rather than places of enlightenment. He also believed that the Church’s position of dominance over the State in the 4th century caused a political structure that was ripe for barbarian attacks and that it ultimately led to a weakening of the empire.

Gibbon’s approach to writing was highly analytical and he believed that it was important to examine the causes of the events he was analyzing, rather than just regurgitate facts and figures. This allowed him to cover huge periods of time in considerable detail, enabling him to pinpoint the exact causes of the empire’s downfall.

Gibbon’s work has spawned legions of admirers since its publication and it has been praised by many leading historians since. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has remained required reading in universities to this very day and is credited with having a major influence in the advancement of historical research. The work stands among the utmost respected pieces of historical scholarship and it is unlikely to ever fall out of favor.