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
- Tantalizing Tales — July 2024 — Part Two July 26, 2024
- The Düngeonmeister Random Monster Generator: A Mix-and-Match RPG Flipbook by Jef Aldrich & Jon Taylor July 25, 2024
- Afro Unicorn: The Land of Afronia, Vol. 1 by April Showers & Ronaldo Barata July 24, 2024
- Echoes Of Memory by Sara Driscoll (EXCERPT) July 23, 2024
- Witch’s Business by Diana Wynne Jones July 22, 2024
- The Mimicking Of Known Successes by Malka Older July 19, 2024
- Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed July 18, 2024
- Life Does Not Allow Us To Meet by He Xi July 17, 2024
- The Three-Body Problem, Part One by Cai Jin, Ge Wendi, BO MU & Caojijiuridong July 16, 2024
- Thornhedge by T Kingfisher July 15, 2024
Categories
Tag Cloud
Al
Alternate History
Art
Auf Deutsch
Autobiography
Children's
Discworld
Doreen
Doug
Dystopia
Eastern Europe
England
Fabulous Ones
Fantasy
Feminism
Fiction
Germany
Graphic Novel
Graphic Novels
History
Horror
Hugo Finalist
Humor
Laura
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