Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon 8 May 1737 - 16 January 1794 was an English historian. His most important work, TheHistory of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788 and is known for the quality and irony of its prose, its use of primary sources, and its open criticism of organized religion.
目錄:
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1. The Extent of the Empire in the Age of the Antonines 1
CHAPTER 2. The Internal Prosperity in the Age of the Antonines 30
CHAPTER 3. The Constitution in the Age of the Antonines 64
CHAPTER 4. The Cruelty, Follies and Murder of Commodus 91
CHAPTER 5. Sale of the Empire to Didius Julianus 112
CHAPTER 6. Death of Severus, Tyranny of Caracalla, Usurpation of Marcinus 137
CHAPTER 7. Tyranny of Maximin, Rebellion, Civil Wars, Death of Maximin 180
CHAPTER 8. State of Persion and Restoration of the Monarchy 209
CHAPTER 9. State of Germany Until the Barbarians 228
HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
CHAPTER 10. Emperors Decius, Gallus, Aemilianus, Valerian and Gallienus 255
CHAPTER 11. Reign of Claudius, Defeat of the Goths 302
CHAPTER 12. Reigns of Tacitus, Probus, Carus and His Sons 339
CHAPTER 13. Reign of Diocletian and His Three Associates 375
CHAPTER 14. Six Emperors at the Same Time, Reunion of the Empire 422
CHAPTER 15. Progress of the Christian Religion 473
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地上之国总是无常
最经典英语文库第六辑之《罗马帝国衰亡史》导读
刘秀玉
如果说古希腊是人类文明的童年时,盛世罗马则是人类青春时代的最好象征。罗马的伟大与光荣不仅在于恺撒、奥古斯都、君士坦丁等一众英雄的丰功伟绩,它还诞生了维吉尔、贺拉斯、奥维德、西塞罗等众多文学家、艺术家和政论家。罗马的辉煌成就激发了不朽的文艺复兴,乃至后来整个欧洲的主流文明。
罗马非一日建成。罗马原为意大利第伯河畔的一座小城,地理位置优越,资源丰富,居民成分比较复杂。从公元前8世纪建城到公元2世纪,罗马经历了由城邦到帝国,由帝国到衰亡的历史进程。从一个不到15万人的小国,成长为称雄世界的帝国,罗马用了1000多年的时间,却在不到200年的时间里迅速瓦解衰落。也许,一个像罗马这样伟大的文明国家,其灭亡并非完全为外力摧毁,而更可能来自内部。长久以来的太平盛世慢慢侵蚀了帝国的精神与肌体,原有的活力日渐式微,不知不觉间,安逸使罗马人对潜在的风险失去了敏感力。罗马文明衰落之后,欧洲经历了漫长的黑暗期,直至文艺复兴再次迎来文明的曙光。地上之国总是无常。《罗马帝国衰亡史》是英国历史学家爱德华吉本的一部巨著。全书共六卷,第一卷出版于1776年,第二、三卷出版于1 7 8 1年,第四、五、六卷出版于1788年。该书问世至今两百余年,鲜有能与之比肩的同类作品。罗马是西方人引以为傲的昔日荣光,而他们每言及罗马,必称《罗马帝国衰亡史》。可见这部皇然巨著在西方的地位。