The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians - Hardcover

Heather, Professor Of Medieval History Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195159543 ISBN 13: 9780195159547

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 2005

Synopsis

The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors Rome called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling an Empire that had dominated their lives for so long.
A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart. He shows first how the Huns overturned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers, to force the Goths and others to seek refuge inside the Empire. This prompted two generations of struggle, during which new barbarian coalitions, formed in response to Roman hostility, brought the Roman west to its knees. The Goths first destroyed a Roman army at the battle of Hadrianople in 378, and went on to sack Rome in 410. The Vandals spread devastation in Gaul and Spain, before conquering North Africa, the breadbasket of the Western Empire, in 439. We then meet Attila the Hun, whose reign of terror swept from Constantinople to Paris, but whose death in 453 ironically precipitated a final desperate phase of Roman collapse, culminating in the Vandals' defeat of the massive Byzantine Armada: the west's last chance for survival.

Peter Heather convincingly argues that the Roman Empire was not on the brink of social or moral collapse. What brought it to an end were the barbarians.

About this title

Review:

'The outcome is the conclusion that Roman imperialism was ultimately responsible for its own demise.' -- Paul Cartledge

'With this book, a powerful searchlight has been shone upon the shadow-dimmed end of Rome’s western empire.' -- Tom Holland

[has] created stimulating new beginnings to thinking about the end of the Roman empire in the West -- Telegraph

a colourful and enthralling narrative . . . full of keen wit, and an infectious relish for the period -- Independent On Sunday

a fascinating story, full of ups and downs and memorable characters -- Spectator

a fast-paced yet detailed narrative -- Spectator

good stories, an easy style and academic excellence. Heather is a master of all three. -- Guardian

succeeds triumphantly -- Sunday Times

the story is an exciting one, bursting with action, brutality . . . one can recommend to anyone, whether specialist or interested amateur. -- History Today

Book Description:

A major new narrative account of one of history's greatest and most epic mysteries: the strange death of the Roman Empire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0195159543
• ISBN 13: 9780195159547
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 608