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History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1 — Edward Gibbon

History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1

Edward Gibbon

  • History
  • Book language: English
  • 781 pages

Edward Gibbon's history opens with the Roman Empire at its height under the Antonines, describing its vast extent, military forces, prosperity and constitution. It then turns to the reign of Commodus and the upheavals that followed, including Pertinax and the auction of the empire. Gibbon's elegant narrative and wide-ranging analysis make this a foundational account of Rome's long decline.

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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).

Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND

FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Edward Gibbon, Esq.

With notes by the Rev. H. H. Milman

Vol. 1

1782 (Written), 1845 (Revised)

Contents

Introduction

Preface By The Editor.

Preface Of The Author.

Preface To The First Volume.

Preface To The Fourth Volume Of The Original Quarto Edition.

Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines

—Part I.

The Extent And Military Force Of The Empire In The

Age Of The Antonines.

Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines.

—Part II.

Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines.

—Part III.

Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—

Part I.

Of The Union And Internal Prosperity Of The Roman

Empire, In The Age Of The Antonines.

Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—

Part II.

Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—

Part III.

Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.

Part IV.

Chapter III: The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part I.

Of The Constitution Of The Roman Empire, In The Age

Of The Antonines.

Chapter III: The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part II.

Chapter IV: The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus.—Part I.

The Cruelty, Follies, And Murder Of Commodus—

Election Of Pertinax—His Attempts To Reform The State

—His Assassination By The Prætorian Guards.

Chapter IV: The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus.—Part

II.

Chapter V: Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus.—Part I.

Public Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus By The

Prætorian

Guards—Clodius

Albinus

In

Britain,

Pescennius Niger In Syria, And Septimius Severus In

Pannonia, Declare Against The Murderers Of Pertinax—

Civil Wars And Victory Of Severus Over His Three

Rivals—Relaxation Of Discipline—New Maxims Of

Government.

Chapter V: Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus.—Part II.

Chapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of

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Contents

  1. HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
  2. Edward Gibbon, Esq. With notes by the Rev. H. H. Milman
  3. Contents
  4. Introduction
  5. Preface By The Editor.
  6. Preface Of The Author.
  7. Preface To The First Volume.
  8. Preface To The Fourth Volume Of The Original Quarto Edition.
  9. Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines—Part I.
  10. Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part II.
  11. Chapter I: The Extent Of The Empire In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part III.
  12. Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part I.
  13. Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part II.
  14. Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part III.
  15. Chapter II: The Internal Prosperity In The Age Of The Antonines. Part IV.
  16. Chapter III: The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part I.
  17. Chapter III: The Constitution In The Age Of The Antonines.—Part II.
  18. Chapter IV: The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus.—Part I.
  19. Chapter IV: The Cruelty, Follies And Murder Of Commodus.—Part II.
  20. Chapter V: Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus.—Part I.
  21. Chapter V: Sale Of The Empire To Didius Julianus.—Part II.
  22. Chapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus.—Part I.
  23. Chapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus.—Part II.
  24. Chapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus.—Part III.
  25. Chapter VI: Death Of Severus, Tyranny Of Caracalla, Usurpation Of Marcinus.—Part IV.
  26. Chapter VII: Tyranny Of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death Of Maximin.—Part I.
  27. Chapter VII: Tyranny Of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death Of Maximin.—Part II.
  28. Chapter VII: Tyranny Of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death Of Maximin.—Part III.
  29. Chapter VIII: State Of Persia And Restoration Of The Monarchy.—Part I.
  30. Chapter VIII: State Of Persia And Restoration Of The Monarchy.—Part II.

and 31 more chapters

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