Books That Matter: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Overview

Join a Harvard professor to examine the meaning and impact of Edward Gibbon’s masterpiece, “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” Published in six volumes between 1776 and 1781, this monumental work contains 1.5 million words and over 8,000 footnotes, offering a detailed narrative of the Roman Empire over more than 1,000 years.

These 24 lectures provide a comprehensive exploration of Gibbon’s work as both a historical chronicle and a significant piece of literature. Professor Damrosch guides you through the themes, structure, and lasting influence of the book, making it accessible and engaging for both new readers and those familiar with Gibbon’s writing.

Course Structure

• The Greatness of Gibbon’s Decline and Fall (32 min)
  • Introduction to Gibbon’s masterpiece and its significance today.

2. The Making of Gibbon the Historian (29 min)
   • Explore Gibbon’s life and intellectual development.

3. The Empire at Its Beginning (30 min)
   • Background on early Roman history and Gibbon’s context.

4. The Theory and Practice of History (29 min)
   • Examine Gibbon’s role as a historian and his use of documentation.

5. The Golden Age of the Antonines (30 min)
   • Introduction to the Antonines, the “five good emperors.”

• The Hidden Poison Begins to Work (30 min)
  • Explore the deterioration of the Roman Empire post-Antonines.

• Diocletian and the Triumph of Constantine (31 min)
  • Study the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine amidst barbarian threats.

8. Enlightenment Skepticism (32 min)
   • Investigate Gibbon’s critiques of Christianity in the context of Enlightenment thought.

• The Rise of Christianity (30 min)
  • Analyze the factors contributing to Christianity’s success.

10. Constantine and Athanasius (31 min)
    • Examine the significance of transferring the capital to Constantinople.

• Julian and the Return to Paganism (30 min)
  • Explore Julian’s attempts to reinstate pagan practices.

12. Barbarian Advances and Theodosius (31 min)
    • Discuss increased barbarian threats and Theodosius’s rule.

• East and West Divided (31 min)
  • Navigate the decline and division of the Roman Empire.

• Huns and Vandals (30 min)
  • Learn about the waves of invasions impacting the Empire.

• Theodoric and Justinian (31 min)
  • Discuss the roles of Theodoric and Justinian in early medieval Europe.

• The Breakup of the Empire (31 min)
  • Examine the transition from the Western Empire to Byzantine dominance.

• The Byzantine Empire and Charlemagne (29 min)
  • Review key developments from the 7th to 11th centuries.

• The Rise of Islam (30 min)
  • Gibbon’s account of Islam’s emergence and its historical context.

• The Byzantine Empire in the 10th Century (32 min)
  • Discuss the shrinking of the Byzantine Empire.

20. The Crusades (33 min)
    • Analyze the role of religion in the Crusades.

21. Genghis Khan and Tamerlane (30 min)
    • Explore the impacts of these notable figures on history.

• The Fall of Constantinople (31 min)
  • Chronicle the pivotal events leading to the capture of Constantinople.

23. The End of Gibbon’s Work (29 min)
    • Reflect on Gibbon’s conclusions and final thoughts.

24. Decline and Fall in Modern Perspective (33 min)
    • Discuss contemporary views on Gibbon’s work and its historical interpretations.