The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88) is one of European literature's most epic and ambitious works. The fate of one of the world's greatest civilizations over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars, and culture, as well as the events that led to its terrible demise - is the focus of this book. Gibbon chronicles the massive extent and constitution of the Empire from Augustus' reign to 395 AD in books one and two. He also investigates the early Church in a controversial critique, with fascinating accounts of the first Christian and last pagan emperors, Constantine and Julian.