Gibbon/Arnold

6. Required Daily (from last unit): Summarize and Compare Gibbon to Toynbee on the End of the Roman Empire.
Gibbons, in his observations, thinks that the fall of Rome was going to happen anyway and he does not understand why it lasted as long as it did. By splitting up the empire, with Constantine in the east and emperors in the west it was dangerous. Constantinople, helped to try and preserve the empire, but it didn't help the west. Gibbons also blames the fall on Christianity. He believes that people were to focused on religion and which one is the right religion. Arnold doesn't believe what Gibbons says about Christianity. He thinks that the fall of the empire was before Christ not after him. Arnold thinks that the civilization made themselves fall. He thinks that if they were not full of themselves than they would have succeeded.


"Medieval Sourcebook: Gibbon: The Fall of the Roman Empire." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .

"Arnold Toynbee - Christianity and Civilization." Welcome to MYRIOBIBLOS - The Etext Library of the Church of Greece. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .

"File:Edward Gibbon.jpg -." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. .