Short Synopsis
In his account of the fall of the Roman Empire, prizewinning author Adrian Goldsworthy examines the painful centuries of the superpower's decline and uncovers surprising lessons about the rise and fall of great nations.

Full Synopsis
In AD 200, the Roman Empire seemed unassailable, its vast territory accounting for most of the known world. By the end of the fifth century, Roman rule had vanished in western Europe and much of northern Africa, and only a shrunken Eastern Empire remained.

This was a period of remarkable personalities, from the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius to emperors like Diocletian, who portrayed themselves as tough, even brutal, soldiers. It was a time of revolutionary ideas, especially in religion, as Christianity went from persecuted sect to the religion of state and emperors. Ultimately, this is the story of how an empire without a serious rival rotted from within, its rulers and institutions putting short-term ambition and personal survival over the greater good of the state.

"Narrator Derek Perkins does an admirable job with a complex topic, avoiding being bogged down in the occasional minutiae of governmental and military structures." ---Library Journal Audio Review

"Derek Perkins brings just the right note of erudition and modernity to this daunting subject." ---AudioFile

"This richly rewarding work will serve as an introduction to Roman history, but will also provide plenty of depth to satisfy the educated reader." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

"A very important book for anyone interested in Roman history." ---The NYMAS Review

Publishers Weekly Review