This is a highly revisionist book that challenges the accepted conclusions, chiefly those of Gibbon, on why the Roman Empire fell. It was not, the author argues, the result of unchecked barbarian invasions, or the assimilation of disloyal barbarians within the Empire, or over-taxation, or Christian unworldliness, or political corruption, or moral decadence. The author asserts that in the end Rome’s imperial aggression led to over-extension and therefore, with poetic justice, led to its own downfall. Yet he demonstrates convincingly that even in the late fourth century the Empire was still a formidable world power that no barbarian tribe could hope to challenge, and there was no shortage of outstanding military leaders such as Constantine, Julian, Stilicho, and Aetius to defend the Empire against the encroachments of barbarians. Every generation of historians makes these kind of revisionist arguments, but this book is provocative and provides a fresh look at old data.
Aug 19 2014
The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather
Permanent link to this article: https://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/2014/08/19/the-fall-of-the-roman-empire-by-peter-heather/
Recent Posts
- Ex Marks The Spot by Gloria Chao February 13, 2025
- Lebanon Is Burning And Other Dispatches by Yazan Al-Saadi et. al. February 12, 2025
- The Bushcraft 101 Field Log by Dave Canterbury February 11, 2025
- Jovi Giraffe Learns To Look by Patricia Bardina, Joanne Burgess & Paul Sharp February 10, 2025
- Eine Jugend by Patrick Modiano February 9, 2025
- Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys February 8, 2025
- A Year of Diana Wynne Jones: The late 1980s! February 7, 2025
- Timing/Luck by Gerry Duggan February 6, 2025
- If You Knew My Name by Lisa Roberts Carter February 5, 2025
- The Green Witch Illustrated by Arin Murphy-Hiscock & Sara Richard February 4, 2025
Categories
Tag Cloud
Al
Alternate History
Art
Auf Deutsch
Autobiography
Children's
Discworld
Doreen
Doug
Dystopia
Eastern Europe
England
Fabulous Ones
Fantasy
Feminism
Fiction
Games
Germany
Graphic Novel
Graphic Novels
History
Horror
Hugo Finalist
Humor
LGBTQIA
Literature
Mystery
Mythology
Non-fiction
Novella
Poetry
Poland
Politics
Religion
Romance
Russia
Science
Science Fiction
Short Stories
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Terry Pratchett
Thriller
Urban Fantasy
World War II
Young Adult