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Reviews
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume I by Edward Gibbon, David Womersley
zkendall's review against another edition
4.0
Very nice to read a survey of this important era and region of history. It's crazy how many rulers were assassinated often one after the other in the same year, and amusing when people were offered the position and were like, "Yeah, no thanks. #IdontWantToDie".
The spread of Christianity is also discussed.
The Empire was so big!
History is fascinating.
The writing is excellent, but the reading isn't easy from having to look up a lot of location and people names so that you can follow along. Wikipedia TFW!
Also here's a nice set of maps: http://www.vox.com/2014/8/19/5942585/40-maps-that-explain-the-roman-empire
I want to read the rest of the volumes but probably at a pace of one per year.
The spread of Christianity is also discussed.
The Empire was so big!
History is fascinating.
The writing is excellent, but the reading isn't easy from having to look up a lot of location and people names so that you can follow along. Wikipedia TFW!
Also here's a nice set of maps: http://www.vox.com/2014/8/19/5942585/40-maps-that-explain-the-roman-empire
I want to read the rest of the volumes but probably at a pace of one per year.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
2.0
This book covers the Roman Empire from 98AD to 410 AD. It was 700 pages long. It covers the Age of the Antonines, The reign of Septimus Sevus, 30 different tyrants, The Persian war, the Authority of Constantine, The progress of the Christian religion, the foundation of Constantinople, Progress of the Huns from China to Europe, The Goths, the fall of the Western Empire, and everything in between. It has a nice introduction in the front from the editor about the history of the Author - who was born in 1737 and how he came to write this series of books (there are 6 volumes in all).
This book was BORING. Not that I am surprised. I knew I wasn't going to love it, but I wanted to read it because 50% of my family is of Italian heritage with great grandparents who came to the United States from Italy before I was born. We are traveling to Italy later this year, so I thought it would give me a little insight on the history of this beautiful country so when I saw the ruins, I would know a little of their history.
This book didn't help. Well, not much anyway. It just didn't hold my interest, and I found myself drifting often while I was reading it. Unless I had complete quiet and zero distractions, most of the page I was reading needed to be re-read. So many names, so many emperors. You just can't keep up. I did learn a few new things. 1) the apple originated in Italy and 2) I had no idea it wasn't always a Christian nation. Don't laugh.
I did find some of it interesting. Like the emperor that had 300 lovers - both men and women. The number of emperors that married their family members, or married off their sisters for money. Romans were crazy. Still are.
If you truly love ancient history, and love reading books that read like manuals, then this book is for you. If you are looking for an actual story, and not just stated facts, then skip it.
This book was BORING. Not that I am surprised. I knew I wasn't going to love it, but I wanted to read it because 50% of my family is of Italian heritage with great grandparents who came to the United States from Italy before I was born. We are traveling to Italy later this year, so I thought it would give me a little insight on the history of this beautiful country so when I saw the ruins, I would know a little of their history.
This book didn't help. Well, not much anyway. It just didn't hold my interest, and I found myself drifting often while I was reading it. Unless I had complete quiet and zero distractions, most of the page I was reading needed to be re-read. So many names, so many emperors. You just can't keep up. I did learn a few new things. 1) the apple originated in Italy and 2) I had no idea it wasn't always a Christian nation. Don't laugh.
I did find some of it interesting. Like the emperor that had 300 lovers - both men and women. The number of emperors that married their family members, or married off their sisters for money. Romans were crazy. Still are.
If you truly love ancient history, and love reading books that read like manuals, then this book is for you. If you are looking for an actual story, and not just stated facts, then skip it.
jeffphilly's review against another edition
4.0
Details
This isn't the sort of thing I would typically read, yet I wanted to read it because I felt that anyone who considers themselves a history buff as I do should read it. This really is one of those classic books worth a read I would gather that the other books are of similar quality
This isn't the sort of thing I would typically read, yet I wanted to read it because I felt that anyone who considers themselves a history buff as I do should read it. This really is one of those classic books worth a read I would gather that the other books are of similar quality
laurelkane's review against another edition
4.0
I can honestly say that this book changed the way I think about some things. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it - and it gets much better with with re-reads. I love Gibbon's snarkiness.
...
Page 446: "A candid but rational inquiry into the progress and establishment of Christianity, may be considered as a very essential part of the history of the Roman empire. While that great body was invaded by open violence, or undermined by slow decay, a pure and humble religion gently insinuated itself into the minds of men, grew up in silence and obscurity, derived new vigour from opposition, and finally erected the triumphant banner of the cross on the ruins of the Capitol. Nor was the influence of Christianity confined to the period or to the limits of the Roman empire. After a revolution of thirteen or fourteen centuries, that religion is still professed by the nations of Europe, the most distinguished portion of human kind in arts and learning as well as in arms. By the industry and zeal of the Europeans, it has been widely diffused to the most distant shores of Asia and Africa; and by the means of their colonies has been firmly established from Canada to Chili, in a world unknown to the ancients."
My margin note: "Oh snap!"
It's amazing how long we've been trying to separate church & state and still remain unsuccessful.
...
Page 446: "A candid but rational inquiry into the progress and establishment of Christianity, may be considered as a very essential part of the history of the Roman empire. While that great body was invaded by open violence, or undermined by slow decay, a pure and humble religion gently insinuated itself into the minds of men, grew up in silence and obscurity, derived new vigour from opposition, and finally erected the triumphant banner of the cross on the ruins of the Capitol. Nor was the influence of Christianity confined to the period or to the limits of the Roman empire. After a revolution of thirteen or fourteen centuries, that religion is still professed by the nations of Europe, the most distinguished portion of human kind in arts and learning as well as in arms. By the industry and zeal of the Europeans, it has been widely diffused to the most distant shores of Asia and Africa; and by the means of their colonies has been firmly established from Canada to Chili, in a world unknown to the ancients."
My margin note: "Oh snap!"
It's amazing how long we've been trying to separate church & state and still remain unsuccessful.