Edward Gibbon

In The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Gibbon argued that Rome lost its civic virtue and martial spirit over centuries. He famously pointed to the rise of Christianity as a major factor, claiming it shifted the public's focus from earthly military duties to the afterlife. He also emphasized the internal decay and the increasing reliance on foreign mercenary armies.

The complete work spans six volumes. The first volume was published in 1776 to immediate acclaim, while the final two volumes were released in 1788. Gibbon spent roughly twenty years researching and writing this massive historical narrative.

Yes, Gibbon's work extends well past the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. The narrative continues through the Middle Ages, covering the survival of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium). It famously concludes with the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Mehmed II in 1453.

Gibbon is celebrated for his highly ironic, elegant prose and his willingness to openly critique organized religion. He popularized a method of using extensive footnotes to cite primary sources, sometimes adding his own sarcastic commentary within them. His work set a new standard for historical scholarship and remains a classic of English literature.