The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon

Nonfiction | Book | Adult

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 9-10

Chapters 11-12

Chapters 13-14

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

According to Gibbon, what are the main causes of the decline of Rome in Volume 1? Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not?

Discuss the office of emperor as Augustus originally designed it. What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of the system were? Do you think Augustus’s system could have prevented the decline of the Roman Empire indefinitely?

Compare and contrast Gibbon’s views on Rome’s decline with those of some modern historians. In what ways are Gibbon’s views similar to modern ones? In what ways does his assessment differ?