Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1, by Edward Gibbon
“The gradual decline of the most extraordinary dominion which has<br />
ever invaded and oppressed the world; the fall of that immense<br />
empire, erected on the ruins of so many kingdoms, republics, and<br />
states both barbarous and civilized; and forming in its turn, by<br />
its dismemberment, a multitude of states, republics, and<br />
kingdoms; the annihilation of the religion of Greece and Rome;<br />
the birth and the progress of the two new religions which have<br />
shared the most beautiful regions of the earth; the decrepitude<br />
of the ancient world, the spectacle of its expiring glory and<br />
degenerate manners; the infancy of the modern world, the picture<br />
of its first progress, of the new direction given to the mind and<br />
character of man—such a subject must necessarily fix the<br />
attention and excite the interest of men, who cannot behold with<br />
indifference those memorable epochs, during which, in the fine<br />
language of Corneille—
‘Un grand destin commence, un grand destin s’achève.’”
This extent and harmony of design is unquestionably that which<br />
distinguishes the work of Gibbon from all other great historical<br />
compositions. He has first bridged the abyss between ancient and<br />
modern times, and connected together the two great worlds of<br />
history. The great advantage which the classical historians<br />
possess over those of modern times is in unity of plan, of course<br />
greatly facilitated by the narrower sphere to which their<br />
researches were confined. Except Herodotus, the great historians<br />
of Greece—we exclude the more modern compilers, like Diodorus<br />
Siculus—limited themselves to a single period, or at ‘east to the<br />
contracted sphere of Grecian affairs. As far as the Barbarians<br />
trespassed within the Grecian boundary, or were necessarily<br />
mingled up with Grecian politics, they were admitted into the<br />
pale of Grecian history; but to Thucydides and to Xenophon,<br />
excepting in the Persian inroad of the latter, Greece was the<br />
world. Natural unity confined their narrative almost to<br />
chronological order, the episodes were of rare occurrence and<br />
extremely brief. To the Roman historians the course was equally<br />
clear and defined. Rome was their centre of unity; and the<br />
uniformity with which the circle of the Roman dominion spread<br />
around, the regularity with which their civil polity expanded,<br />
forced, as it were, upon the Roman historian that plan which<br />
Polybius announces as the subject of his history, the means and<br />
the manner by which the whole world became subject to the Roman<br />
sway. How different the complicated politics of the European<br />
kingdoms! Every national history, to be complete, must, in a<br />
certain sense, be the history of Europe; there is no knowing to<br />
how remote a quarter it may be necessary to trace our most<br />
domestic events; from a country, how apparently disconnected, may<br />
originate the impulse which gives its direction to the whole<br />
course of affairs.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Vol. 1) by Edward Gibbon
This passage serves as part of Gibbon’s preface to his monumental work, outlining the scope, ambition, and historical significance of his project. Below is a breakdown of its key elements—context, themes, literary devices, and significance—with a focus on the text itself.
1. Context of the Excerpt
- Author & Work: Edward Gibbon (1737–1794) was an English historian whose The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776–1789) is one of the most influential historical works ever written. The excerpt comes from the introductory section, where Gibbon justifies his grand historical narrative.
- Historical Background: Gibbon wrote during the Enlightenment, a period marked by rationalism, skepticism toward religion, and a fascination with classical antiquity. His work bridges ancient and modern history, tracing Rome’s fall (traditionally dated to 476 CE) and its aftermath, including the rise of Christianity and Islam, the fragmentation of Europe, and the birth of the modern world.
- Purpose: Gibbon is defending his method—unlike classical historians (e.g., Thucydides, Polybius), who focused on single cities or empires, he attempts a sweeping, interconnected history of civilization’s transition from antiquity to modernity.
2. Themes in the Excerpt
A. The Grand Narrative of Rise and Fall
- Gibbon frames his subject as a dramatic, almost cyclical story:
- The rise of Rome ("erected on the ruins of so many kingdoms, republics, and states").
- Its fall ("dismemberment" into new states).
- The death of old religions (Greek/Roman polytheism) and the birth of new ones (Christianity and Islam).
- The decline of the ancient world ("decrepitude," "expiring glory") and the dawn of modernity ("infancy of the modern world").
- The French quote ("Un grand destin commence, un grand destin s’achève"—"A great destiny begins, a great destiny ends") from Corneille (a 17th-century French dramatist) reinforces this epic, almost tragic vision of history.
B. The Unity of History
- Gibbon contrasts his approach with classical historians:
- Greek historians (Thucydides, Xenophon) wrote narrowly—focused on Greece as "the world."
- Roman historians (Polybius) had a clear center (Rome’s expansion).
- Modern history, by contrast, is fragmented and interconnected—no single empire dominates, so a historian must trace global causes and effects.
- His innovation: He bridges ancient and modern history, showing how Rome’s fall shaped Europe’s political and religious landscape.
C. The Role of Religion and Civilization
- Gibbon highlights three major religious shifts:
- The annihilation of Greco-Roman paganism.
- The rise of Christianity (which he later critiques in his famous Chapters 15–16).
- The spread of Islam (which he sees as a rival to Christianity in the "most beautiful regions of the earth").
- This reflects the Enlightenment’s interest in secular progress—Gibbon treats religion as a historical force, not a divine one.
D. Decay and Renewal
- The language of decline ("decrepitude," "degenerate manners," "expiring glory") suggests a moral and cultural decay in late Rome.
- Yet, the birth of the modern world implies rebirth—Gibbon is writing at the dawn of the Age of Revolutions, seeing history as dynamic, not static.
3. Literary Devices & Stylistic Features
Gibbon’s prose is elegant, rhythmic, and persuasive, using several key techniques:
A. Parallelism & Antithesis
- "A great destiny begins, a great destiny ends" (Corneille’s quote) – symmetry emphasizes historical transition.
- "The infancy of the modern world, the picture of its first progress" – juxtaposition of birth and growth.
- "The gradual decline... the fall... the annihilation... the birth" – repetition of structures creates a sense of inevitability.
B. Grand, Almost Biblical Diction
- "The most extraordinary dominion which has ever invaded and oppressed the world" – hyperbolic language elevates Rome to a mythic scale.
- "The decrepitude of the ancient world, the spectacle of its expiring glory" – personification (the ancient world "expires" like a dying man).
C. Historical Contrast
- Gibbon compares classical and modern historiography:
- Classical historians had simple, unified subjects (Greece, Rome).
- Modern history is complex, interconnected ("Every national history... must be the history of Europe").
- This justifies his broad scope—he is not just writing about Rome’s fall but about civilization’s evolution.
D. Allusion & Intertextuality
- The Corneille quote adds dramatic weight, linking history to tragedy.
- References to Thucydides, Polybius, Herodotus position Gibbon in the great tradition of historiography while claiming to surpass it.
4. Significance of the Passage
A. Gibbon’s Historical Method
- He rejects providential history (the idea that God directly guides events) in favor of secular, causal analysis.
- His comparative approach (ancient vs. modern) influences later historians (e.g., Hegel, Marx, Toynbee).
B. The Enlightenment’s View of History
- Gibbon embodies the Enlightenment faith in progress, but with skepticism—Rome’s fall was not just moral decay but also structural collapse.
- His critique of Christianity (implied here, explicit later) was controversial but aligned with Voltaire’s and Hume’s secularism.
C. Literary Influence
- His style (grand, ironic, precise) set a standard for historical writing.
- The epic scope of his work inspired later macro-histories (e.g., Spengler’s Decline of the West, Ferguson’s The Ascent of Money).
D. Relevance to Modern Historiography
- Gibbon’s global perspective (linking Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa) foreshadows world history as a discipline.
- His focus on institutional and cultural decline remains influential in studies of empire (e.g., comparisons to the U.S., British Empire).
5. Close Reading of Key Lines
"The gradual decline of the most extraordinary dominion which has ever invaded and oppressed the world..."
- "Gradual decline" – Not a sudden collapse, but a long, systemic decay (a theme he develops over six volumes).
- "Invaded and oppressed" – Moral ambiguity: Rome was both great and tyrannical.
"The birth and the progress of the two new religions which have shared the most beautiful regions of the earth..."
- "Two new religions" – Christianity and Islam, which Gibbon sees as replacing paganism but also competing with each other.
- "Most beautiful regions" – Irony? The Mediterranean was Rome’s heartland, now divided between Christendom and the Islamic world.
"The decrepitude of the ancient world, the spectacle of its expiring glory and degenerate manners..."
- "Decrepitude" – Physical and moral decay (a common Enlightenment trope).
- "Expiring glory" – Nostalgia for Rome’s peak, but also acceptance of its end.
"Every national history, to be complete, must, in a certain sense, be the history of Europe..."
- Modern history is interconnected—unlike ancient historians, Gibbon must trace distant causes (e.g., barbarian migrations, religious schisms).
6. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is not just an introduction—it is a manifesto for a new kind of history:
- Scope: Gibbon does not just chronicle events; he analyzes civilizational shifts.
- Style: His rhetorical brilliance makes history dramatic and philosophical.
- Legacy: He challenges providential history, critiques religion’s role, and sets the stage for modern historiography.
Gibbon’s work remains essential reading because it asks big questions:
- Why do empires fall?
- How do religions shape societies?
- What defines progress?
His answers—complex, skeptical, and eloquent—continue to influence how we understand the past.
Final Thought
Gibbon’s Decline and Fall is more than a history of Rome—it is a meditation on power, faith, and human nature. This passage sets the stage for that meditation, inviting readers to see history not as a series of isolated events, but as a grand, interconnected drama—one in which "a great destiny begins, a great destiny ends."