Historian Edward Gibbon’s life’s mission was to chronicle the centuries-long collapse of the Roman Empire. The result of this grand endeavor became one of the greatest works of history ever written.
This full lecture guides you through successive waves of barbarian invaders, beginning with the assault of the Huns, led by Attila. You’ll also get Gibbon’s insights on the development of barbarian kingdoms, a sequence of nine Roman emperors in just 20 years, and his biased views on the growth of monasticism.
From the Lecture Series: Books That Matter: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Taught by Professor Leo Damrosch, Ph.D.
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