The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

::This is about the book. For the historical event see Decline of the Roman Empire

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The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a major literary achievement of Eighteenth Century, was written by the English historian, Edward Gibbon. Volume I was published in 1776, and went through five printings (a remarkable feat for its time). Volume II was printed in 1781, and the final one in 1788. The original volumes were not published together, but as quartos, a common publishing practice.

Related Topics:
Eighteenth Century - English - Historian - Edward Gibbon - 1776 - 1781 - 1788 - Quarto

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The books cover the period of the Roman Empire after Marcus Aurelius from just before CE 180 to 1453 and beyond, concluding in 1590. They take as their material the behavior and decisions that led to the decay and eventual fall of the Roman Empire in the East and West, offering an explanation on why the Roman Empire fell.

Related Topics:
Roman Empire - Marcus Aurelius - 180 - 1453 - 1590

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Often referred to as "the first modern historian", Gibbon was a precursor for the more advanced methodologies of 19th and 20th century historians regarding his objectivity and accuracy in the use of reference material. His pessimism and detached use of irony was common to the historical genre of that era.

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Although he published other books, Gibbon devoted the greater part of his life to this one work. Even his Autobiography Memoirs of My Life and Writings is devoted for the most part to his reflections on how the writing of the book consumed his entire life.

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