The Ruin of the Roman Empire: The Emperor Who Brought It Down, The Barbarians Who Could Have Saved It

The Ruin of the Roman Empire: The Emperor Who Brought It Down, The Barbarians Who Could Have Saved It
ISBN-10
1847653960
ISBN-13
9781847653963
Category
History
Pages
768
Language
English
Published
2011-05-26
Publisher
Profile Books
Author
James J O'Donnell

Description

What really marked the end of the Roman Empire? James O'Donnell's magnificent new book takes us back to the sixth century and the last time the Empire could be regarded as a single community. Two figures dominate his narrative - Theodoric the 'barbarian', whose civilized rule in Italy with his philosopher minister Boethius might have been an inspiration, and in Constantinople Justinian, who destroyed the Empire with his rigid passion for orthodoxy and his restless inability to secure his frontiers with peace. The book closes with Pope Gregory the Great, the polished product of ancient Roman schools, presiding over a Rome in ruins.

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