Glimpses of Gibbon I

Reader Guide to The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

By: Tony McKinley

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

This book is designed to provide an inviting guide to the greatest modern history of ancient Rome, Edward Gibbon’s “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.” This current work covers the first 36 of Gibbon's complete 72 chapters. “Glimpses of Gibbon, Volume I” starts with Chapter I, “The Extent and Military Force of the Empire in the Age of the Antonines” and ends with Chapter XXXVI, “Sack of Rome by Genseric, King of the Vandals – Reign of Odoacer, the first Barbarian King of Italy.”
In our journey from Rome’s highest attainments of Pax Romana covering most of the civilized world to the extinction of the Western Empire, Gibbon enriches us with a deep understanding of the personalities of the primary characters and the experience of the common citizens, both the Romans and Barbarians. He enlightens us on the rapid evolution of universal belief in the ancient Pagan religions to the imperially declared official embrace of Christianity. We witness the most famous events of our shared history such as the Vision of Constantine and the invasions of Barbarians including the Goths, Vandals, and Attila and his Huns. We come to realize none of these events followed smooth paths, as the spread of Christianity was briefly opposed by Julian the Apostate’s revival of Paganism, and the victories of the Barbarians were reversed by generals such as Stilicho and Aetius. The lives of saints are very influential, and Gibbon records their mark on this history, including St. Augustine, St. Martin of Tours, Saint George and Pope Leo the Great.
As Literature, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is a magisterial composition, the work of a brilliant writer. As we become familiar with Gibbon’s intellect and wit, we become accustomed to his biting irony. We come to realize that he is always telling us more than the plain meaning of the words convey, he is always sharing his learned opinion to enhance our understanding of the events and people he describes.