The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather

The empire extended from the ramparts of Hadrian’s Wall to the deserts of northern Mesopotamia, and from the deltas of the Rhine and Danube to the valleys of the Atlas Mountains.

In 375, the Roman Empire appeared as strong and secure as it had been in its four-hundred-year history. one can recommend to anyone, whether specialist or interested amateur. Heather, (Oxford University Press, 2006), 40. 'a fascinating story, full of ups and downs and memorable characters' Spectator Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism. 'provides the reader with drama and lurid colour as well as analysis. The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. an account full of keen wit and an infectious relish for the period.' Independent On Sunday The collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D can be attributed to many social causes, such as the introduction of Buddhism, political causes, such as weak leaders, an economic causes, such as inflation. Reaching from Greece to Egypt, the empire was bound to fall. He examines the extraordinary success story that was the Roman Empire and uses a new understanding of its continued strength and enduring limitations to show how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome, eventually pulled it apart. The Roman Empire was one of the biggest and most powerful empires of it’s time. Mixing authoratative analysis with thrilling narrative, he brings fresh insight into the panorama of the empire's end, from the bejewelled splendour of the imperial court to the dripping forests of 'Barbaricum'. In this ground breaking book, Peter Heather proproses a stunning new solution to one of the greatest mysteries of history. Within a hundred years the last Emperor of the Western Empire had been deposed. And yet, August that year saw a small group of German-speaking asylum-seekers rout a vast Imperial army at Hadrianople, killing the Emperor and establishing themselves on Roman territory. In AD 378 the Roman Empire had been the unrivalled superpower of Europe for well over four hundred years.

The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather