The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is Edward
Gibbon's magnum opus, written and published over a 13-year period
beginning in 1776. It not only chronicles the events of the downfall
starting with the end of the rule of Marcus Aurelius, but proposes a
theory as to why Rome collapsed: the populace, Gibbon theorizes, lost
its moral fortitude, its militaristic will, and its sense of civic duty.
History is considered a classic in world literature, and Gibbon is
sometimes called the first "modern historian" for his insistence upon
using primary sources for his research. Many scholars today still use
his highly regarded work as reference. In this fourth of seven volumes,
readers will find Chapter 36 ("Total Extinction of the Western Empire")
through Chapter 44 ("Idea of the Roman Jurisprudence"), which cover the
rule and death of Emperor Maximus; the invasion of the Vandals; the
reigns of Majorian, Ricimer, Leo, Anthemius, Olybrius, Julius Nepos,
Glycerius, Flavius Orestes, and Augustulus; the extinction of the
Western Roman Empire; the decay of the Roman Spirit; the rule of Odoacer
over Italy; the origin and development of monastic life; the conversion
of the Goths, Vandals, Burgundians, and Lombards; the persecution of the
Jews in Spain; and the rule of barbarian kings over the lands formerly
under Roman control. Chapter 39 begins a concentration on the Eastern
Roman Empire, starting with Theodoric of the Osthrogoths, and the volume
continues with Justinian I; Belisarius's invasion of Africa; histories
of the Gepidae, the Lombards, and the Sclavonians; the deaths of both
Belisarius and Justinian; and an overview of Roman law. English
parliamentarian and historian EDWARD GIBBON (1737-1794) attended
Magdelan College, Oxford for 14 months before his father sent him to
Lausanne, Switzerland, where he continued his education. He published
Essai sur l'Étude de la Littérature (1761) and other autobiographical
works, including Mémoire Justificatif pour servir de Réponse à l'Exposé,
etc. de la Cour de France (1779).
