Edward Gibbon Knihy

Úpadek a pád římské říše Edwarda Gibbona je monumentální dílo, které ohromuje svou rétorikou a vtipem. Gibbon podává panoramatický obraz společnosti a historických událostí, evokuje slávu římské civilizace, která se vyznačovala univerzálním právem, regionální autonomií a náboženskou tolerancí. Během Pax Romana lidé zažívali míru osobního bezpečí a prosperity, jakou nikdy předtím nepoznali. Řím je pro Gibbona symbolem osvícenské budoucnosti, kde byly všechny náboženské kulty považovány za rovnocenné. Dědictví Říma fascinují především popisy jeho rozkladu a vědomí, že každé impérium a civilizace jsou smrtelné. V úpadku římské společnosti nacházíme symptomy současnosti: dekadenci, ztrátu ctností, korupci, sociální politiku založenou na uplácení, rostoucí daně a byrokracii, zánik střední třídy a vznik bohatých latifundistů. Gibbon ukazuje, jak mocná říše byla oslabena expanzí a nakonec zničena kompromisní politikou vůči imigrantům. Při psaní prvního svazku svých dějin v době vzniku americké republiky, inspirované Římem, cituje Benjamina Franklina: „Nedokážeme-li záviset jeden na druhém, bude každý z nás viset zvlášť.” Toto je memento mori našich časů.

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Focusing on the decline of the Roman Empire, this six-volume work analyzes the period from the late 2nd century AD to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Gibbon employs Enlightenment principles, emphasizing reason and critical analysis to explore the empire's collapse due to political corruption, military overreach, and economic issues, alongside the emergence of Christianity. The narrative also delves into the interactions among diverse cultures within the empire, including the impact of barbarian invasions and the Byzantine legacy.

The memoirs delve into Edward Gibbon's intellectual journey as a prominent figure of the Enlightenment, highlighting his contributions to history, philosophy, and literature. Gibbon reflects on the vibrant intellectual climate of his time, particularly regarding the Roman Empire and Europe. His writings reveal not only personal anecdotes but also a broader understanding of Enlightenment thought, offering insights into the era's philosophy and its impact on his scholarly work. This autobiography serves as both a personal narrative and a testament to Gibbon's lasting legacy.

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. This title brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization, and helped make us who we are.

Edward Gibbons Memoirs of My Life and Writings offers a masterclass in intellectual autobiography, tracing the evolution of the historian whose Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire redefined Enlightenment historiography. Written with unflinching self-scrutiny, Gibbon dissects his transformation from a sickly child into Europes preeminent chronicler of imperial collapse, blending scholarly rigor with wry reflections on personal failures and triumphs. The memoir reveals how Gibbons Swiss education and Roman epiphany at the Capitoline coalesced into a lifelong obsession with civilizational decay. He meticulously reconstructs his research methodology, from scouring Byzantine chronicles to defending his controversial treatment of early Christianity, while candidly addressing critics who accused him of undermining religious orthodoxy. Gibbons narrative oscillates between the grand his philosophical debates with Diderot and Hume and the intimate, including his thwarted romance and fraught relationship with his father. The work stands as both a manifesto for empirical history and a meditation on how private obsessions fuel public legacies, essential reading for students of historiography and Enlightenment thought.

Edited, abridged, and with a critical Foreword by Hans-Friedrich MuellerIntroduction by Daniel J. BoorstinIllustrations by Giovanni Battista PiranesiEdward Gibbon’s masterpiece, which narrates the history of the Roman Empire from the second century A.D. to its collapse in the west in the fifth century and in the east in the fifteenth century, is widely considered the greatest work of history ever written. This abridgment retains the full scope of the original, but in a breadth comparable to a novel. Casual readers now have access to the full sweep of Gibbon’s narrative, while instructors and students have a volume that can be read in a single term. This unique edition emphasizes elements ignored in all other abridgments—in particular the role of religion in the empire and the rise of Islam.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Covering the era from Justinian's reign to the rise of the Holy Roman Empire, this volume delves into the significant events and transformations of the time, including the rise of Islam and the Arab conquests that dismantled the Sassanid Empire. Gibbon also explores the emergence of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne and the political and religious conflicts such as the iconoclastic controversy and the Investiture Controversy. His detailed accounts and analyses highlight the profound impact of these developments on Western civilization.