Decline and Fall: An Intermission

I just finished book three of Edward Gibbon's infamous History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. In honor of that (it's something like 3,500 pages long, and I'm half way through!) I'm going to record a few thoughts.

First of all, this is likely the most footnoted book I've ever read. I would estimate about 1/4 of each page consists entirely of footnotes. I'm note sure I would ever finish the book if I read all of the footnotes, but it's very interesting to give some of them a looksy. The constant references to inummerable ancient authors and other sources underscores the fact that I could never write a history book. The amount of reading and study Gibbon had to undertake before writing page one is simply incredible.

Because I love it when one culture comes into contact with another, I want to include a quote from one such footnote. Gibbon published the first book of The History in England in 1776, a time when there was some history of a different sort taking place in another part of the world. It's interesting to hear a highly educated British citizen give us his perspective on America, albeit a brief one, at the inception of our revolution:

America now contains about six millions of European blood and descent; and their numbers, at least in the North, are continually increasing. Whatever may be the changes of their political situation, they must preserve the manners of Europe; and we may reflect with some pleasure, that the English language will probably be diffused over an immense and populous continent.

Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,

footnote 8, Page 514, notes at the end of chapter XXXVIII

The big question, of course, is why did the Roman Empire fall? Well, there were many reasons, and I'm only half way through with The History, so I'll save the answer for another day. However, I will end with this quote, which touches on the subject:

The rise of a city, which swelled into an empire, may deserve, as a singular prodigy, the reflection of a philosophic mind. But the decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay; the causes of destruction multiplied with the extent of conquest; and as soon as time or accident had removed the artificial supports, the stupendous fabric yielded to the pressure of its own weight. The story of its ruin is simple and obvious; and instead of inquiring why the Roman empire was destroyed, we should rather be surpised that it had subsisted so long.

Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, page 509, notes at the end of chapter XXXVIII