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Explore an insightful and original discussion of the causes of the fall of the Roman EmpireIn Why Rome Fell: Decline and Fall, or Drift and Change?, celebrated scholar of Roman history Dr. Michael Arnheim delivers a fascinating and robust exploration of the causes of and reasons for Rome's fall in the West. Steeped in applications of elite theory to the later Roman Empire, the author discusses several interconnected issues that influenced the decline of Rome, including monarchy, power structure, social mobility, religion, and the aristocratic ethos.Incisive comparisons of the situation in Rome to those in the Principate and the Byzantine Empire shed light on the relative lack of "indissoluble union and easy obedience" (in Gibbon's phrase) in the later Roman Empire. Instead, the book reveals the divided loyalties of a fractured society that characterized Rome in its later years. Why Rome Fell also includes:* A thorough introduction to the transition from the ancient to the medieval world, including discussions of monarchy, Diocletian and his relationship to the aristocracy, and Constantine's reforms* Comprehensive explorations of the rise of the Roman Christian empire and Constantine's role* Practical discussions of conflicting theories of what caused the fall of the Roman empire, including the Pirenne thesis, the malaria hypothesis, Gibbon's 'decline and fall' theory, and the role played by religionAn indispensable resource for students, scholars and the general reader with an inquiring mind about history, Why Rome Fell deserves a place on the bookshelves of anyone with an interest in a sophisticated and original take on historical continuity and change.

Why Rome Fell: Decline and Fall, or Drift and Change?

CONTENTSIntroduction: The ProblemPart I : Transition from the Ancient to the Medieval WorldChapter 1 -- From Principate to DominateChapter 2 -- Diocletian, Hammer of the AristocracyChapter 3 -- Constantine the ReformerChapter 4 -- The Christian EmpireChapter 5 -- The Fundamental ParadoxChapter 6 -- Political Fragmentation and the Manorial SystemPart II -- Conflicting TheoriesChapter 7 -- Two Models of GovernmentChapter 8 -- Competing Schools of HistoryChapter 9 -- Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman EmpireChapter 10 -- The Role of ChristianityChapter 11 -- The Military ExplanationChapter 12 - "Late Antiquity"Chapter 13 -- "Eirenic" SettlementsChapter 14 -- The Pirenne ThesisChapter 15 -- The Malaria HypothesisPart III -- ConclusionChapter 16 -- Fall plus Continuity