The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (abridged ed., Vols. 1 - 6)

Edward Gibbon FRS (8 May 1737] – 16 January 1794) was an English historian, writer, and member of parliament. His most important work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, is known for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources, and its polemical criticism of organised religion.Spanning thirteen centuries from the age of Trajan to the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, "Decline & Fall" is one of the greatest narratives in European Literature. David Womersley's masterly selection and bridging commentary enables the reader to acquire a general sense of the progress and argument of the whole work and displays the full variety of Gibbon's achievement. Preface By The Editor.......Page 4 Preface Of The Author.......Page 21 Preface To The First Volume.......Page 24 Preface To The Fourth Volume Of The Original Quarto Edition.......Page 25 The Extend Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antoninies.......Page 29 The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.......Page 56 The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines.......Page 86 The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus.......Page 110 Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus.......Page 130 Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus.......Page 153 Tyranny Of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death Of Maximin.......Page 193 State Of Persion And Restoration Of The Monarchy.......Page 221 State Of Germany Until The Barbarians.......Page 239 Emperors Decius, Gallus, Æmilianus, Valerian And......Page 263 Reign Of Claudius, Defeat Of The Goths.......Page 307 Reigns Of Tacitus, Probus, Carus And His Sons.......Page 341 Reign Of Diocletian And This Three Associates.......Page 374 Six Emperors At The Same Time, Reunion Of The Empire.......Page 416 Progress Of The Christian Religion.......Page 462 Conduct Towards The Christians, From Nero To Constantine.......Page 530 Foundation Of Constantinople.......Page 596 Character Of Constantine And His Sons.......Page 647 Constantius Sole Emperor.......Page 687 Conversion Of Constantine.......Page 728 Persecution Of Heresy, State Of The Church.......Page 764 Julian Declared Emperor.......Page 824 Reign Of Julian.......Page 857 The Retreat And Death Of Julian.......Page 898 Reigns Of Jovian And Valentinian, Division Of The Empire.......Page 946 Progress of The Huns.......Page 1009 Civil Wars, Reign Of Theodosius.......Page 1071 Destruction Of Paganism.......Page 1124 Division Of Roman Empire Between Sons Of Theodosius.......Page 1149 Revolt Of The Goths.......Page 1171 Invasion Of Italy, Occupation Of Territories By Barbarians.......Page 1213 Emperors Arcadius, Eutropius, Theodosius II.......Page 1279 Conquest Of Africa By The Vandals.......Page 1312 Attila.......Page 1332 Invasion By Attila.......Page 1361 Total Extinction Of The Western Empire.......Page 1392 Conversion Of The Barbarians To Christianity.......Page 1443 Reign Of Clovis.......Page 1479 Gothic Kingdom Of Italy.......Page 1542 Reign Of Justinian.......Page 1571 Conquests Of Justinian, Character Of Balisarius.......Page 1629 State Of The Barbaric World.......Page 1700 Last Victory And Death Of Belisarius, Death Of Justinian.......Page 1744 Idea Of The Roman Jurisprudence.......Page 1791 State Of Italy Under The Lombards.......Page 1851 Troubles In Persia.......Page 1887 Ecclesiastical Discord.......Page 1938 Succession And Characters Of The Greek Emperors.......Page 2001 Conquest Of Italy By The Franks.......Page 2080 Description Of Arabia And Its Inhabitants.......Page 2139 Conquests By The Arabs.......Page 2215 More Conquests By The Arabs.......Page 2296 Fate Of The Eastern Empire.......Page 2348 Origin And Doctrine Of The Paulicians.......Page 2388 The Bulgarians, The Hungarians And The Russians.......Page 2404 The Saracens, The Franks And The Normans.......Page 2432 The Turks.......Page 2479 The First Crusade.......Page 2510 The Crusades.......Page 2566 The Fourth Crusade.......Page 2624 Partition Of The Empire By The French And Venetians.......Page 2683 Greek Emperors Of Nice And Constantinople.......Page 2737 Civil Wars And The Ruin Of The Greek Empire.......Page 2778 Moguls, Ottoman Turkds.......Page 2813 Elevation Of Timour Or Tamerlane, And His Death......Page 2867 Union Of The Greek And Latin Churches.......Page 2923 Schism Of The Greeks And Latins.......Page 2986 Reign Of Mahomet The Second, Extinction Of Eastern Empire......Page 3019 State Of Rome From The Twelfth Century.......Page 3063 Final Settlement Of The Ecclesiastical State.......Page 3139 Prospect Of The Ruins Of Rome In The Fifteenth......Page 3203 "Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis." "Famously sceptical about Christianity, unexpectedly sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was alert to both the broad pattern of events and the significant revealing detail. Attacked for its enlightened views on politics, sexuality and religion, the first volume was none the less soon to be found 'on every table' and was widely acclaimed for the elegance of its prose. Gripping, powerfully intelligent and wonderfully entertaining, it is the greatest work of history in the English language, and ranks as one of the literary masterpieces of its age." "This abridgement is based on David Womersley's three-volume Penguin Classics edition of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Complete chapters from all three volumes, linked by extended bridging passages, capture the style, the argument and the architecture of the whole work."--Jacket

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Gibbon's masterpiece, which narrates the history of the Roman Empire from the second century a.d. to its collapse in the west in the fifth century and in the east in the fifteenth century, is widely considered the greatest work of history ever written. This abridgment retains the full scope of the original, but in a compass equivalent to a long novel. Casual readers now have access to the full sweep of Gibbon's narrative, while instructors and students have a volume that can be read in a single term. This unique edition emphasizes elements ignored in all other abridgments--in particular the role of religion in the empire and the rise of Islam.From the Trade Paperback edition.