Edward Gibbon

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that Edward Gibbon's "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" has impacted much of history including the development of the American Republic. The paper looks at Gibbon's background and discusses Gibbon's beliefs on how it was possible that Rome had been such a dominant force in the ancient world for more than a millennium. The paper concludes that it may be worthwhile for us today to review Gibbon's work to determine the similarities between that time and now and what the future may bring.

From the Paper:

"When names of historians are mentioned, it is rare that Edward Gibbon Wakefield is among them. Perhaps for those historians or individuals who study this particular area he is recognized, but for others he either remains nameless or as a footnote. Even those who have studied the man and his times have many unanswered questions. Yet, his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire has impacted much of history including the development of the American Republic."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Craddock, P. (1989) Edward Gibbon. Luminous Historian. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.
• Epstein, J. (1996). Real Page-Turner. The American Scholar 65: 167-8
• Goode, S. (1998) Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. Insight on the News. 14(29) 18+.
• Kelly, C. (1998) Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Greece & Rome. 45: 232-233.
• Lloyd-Jones, H. (1997) Decline and Fall, Then and Now. National Review 49(14) 57-59

More papers on Edward Gibbon:

• Essay # 54179 : "Edward Gibbon"
• Essay # 40716 : "The End of the Western Roman Empire"
• Comparison Essay # 14947 : "Federalist Papers"

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