Decay of the Roman Empire :: Ancient Rome Roman History

Decay of the Roman empireEdward gibbon says the descent of Rome was inevitable. He writes that instead of inquiring why the Roman Empire was destroyed, it is surprising that it subsisted so long. Gibbons account comes down to four major arguments, change integrity into rulership, the abuse of Christianity, the expansion of the Barbarians, and finally the loss of the Roman military index number. Edward Gibbon was one of the greatest English historians of the late 1700s. His start out entered him in Magdalen College, University of Oxford solely shortly after his enrollment in 1753 he decided to switch over to Roman Catholicism. Magdalen college only accepted Anglicans so he was barred from the school. His father then sent him to Switzerland, in care of a Calvinist pastor, who by Christmas, 1754, had reconciled him to Protestantism. After many years in Switzerland Gibbon returned place and decided to devote his life to scholarship and writing. In 1764, go tour Rome, Gibbon dec ided to write about the citys history. His work The History of the set and Fall of the Roman Empire was one of his greatest works and disdain the availability of new factual data and a recognition of Gibbons horse opera Bias, Decline and Fall is still read and enjoyed.In Gibbons first argument of divided rulership, he states that there simply was no central power in the Roman Empire. He writes, The throne of Constantinople was erected in the East while the West was still possessed by a series of emperors who held their dwelling house in Italy and claimed their equal inheritance of the legions and provinces. This dangerous novelty impaired the strength, and fomented the vices, of a double reign. (2)As in any historical reference, when one divides their forces it weakens their strength. Gibbons makes this out to be a very important reason for the collapse of Rome. in time thought Constantinople was strong at this time, Gibbon points out that, The Byzantine approach beheld, perha ps with pleasure the disgrace of Rome, and the misfortunes of Italy.Edward Gibbons second argument, the abuse of Christianity, has much to do with the new virtues of society brought with the new religion. Gibbons states, The clergy successfully preached the doctrines of patience and pusillanimity the brisk virtues of society were discouraged. These active virtues of ambition and power were what made Rome great. The church and even the state, were distracted by religious factions, whose conflicts were sometimes bloody, and always merciless the attention of the Emperors were diverted from camps to synods.