The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Edward Gibbon)

*The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire* by Edward Gibbon analyzes how the vast Roman Empire gradually weakened and collapsed over several centuries. Gibbon attributes this decline to various factors, including economic troubles, overexpansion, political corruption, military defeats, and the rise of Christianity changing traditional values. He emphasizes how internal weaknesses and external pressures combined to erode Rome’s stability. Published in the 18th century, the book offers a detailed, chronological account of Rome’s fall, highlighting the complex interplay of cultural, political, and social changes that led to the end of one of history’s greatest empires.