The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)

"The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbon is a historical account written in the late 18th century. This monumental work explores the decline of the Roman Empire, spanning over a thousand years, and examines the political, social, and military complexities that led to its downfall. Gibbon's sweeping narrative covers the era from the apex of the empire to the eventual disintegration and highlights the interplay of various historical forces. At the start of the book, Gibbon establishes the immense scope of his analysis by outlining the grandeur of the Roman Empire during the height of the Antonine period. He introduces the idea that the fall of this powerful civilization can be divided into three significant periods, beginning with the decline post-Trajan. Gibbon intends to present a detailed examination of the empire's internal and external challenges that culminated in its fall. The opening chapters promise a meticulous recounting of Roman history, focusing on the virtues and vices of its emperors and the barbarian incursions that ultimately reshaped Europe. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Edward Gibbon was an English essayist, historian, and politician. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published in six volumes between 1776 and 1789, is known for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources, and its polemical criticism of organized religion.