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The Fall of the Roman Empire
- A New History of Rome and the Barbarians
- Narrated by: Allan Robertson
- Length: 21 hrs and 43 mins
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The Fall of the Roman Empire
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Summary
The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors Rome called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling an Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart. He shows first how the Huns overturned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers, to force the Goths and others to seek refuge inside the Empire. This prompted two generations of struggle, during which new barbarian coalitions, formed in response to Roman hostility, brought the Roman west to its knees.
The Goths first destroyed a Roman army at the battle of Hadrianople in 378, and went on to sack Rome in 410. The Vandals spread devastation in Gaul and Spain, before conquering North Africa, the breadbasket of the Western Empire, in 439. We then meet Attila the Hun, whose reign of terror swept from Constantinople to Paris, but whose death in 453 ironically precipitated a final desperate phase of Roman collapse, culminating in the Vandals' defeat of the massive Byzantine Armada: the west's last chance for survival.
Peter Heather convincingly argues that the Roman Empire was not on the brink of social or moral collapse. What brought it to an end were the barbarians.
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What listeners say about The Fall of the Roman Empire
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Dave
- 21-09-21
Thorough review of the decline of Rome
A very thorough and detailed analysis of the last decades of the Roman Empire.With tremendous amounts of information and research, Peter Heather outlines Rome's relationships with the German tribes on the other side of the border, and how the Eastern Roman Empire survived and could not save the west.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alan Mcmeechan
- 13-08-19
Very in-depth and well narrated
Enjoyed this so much, immediately re-listened to it, there is so much detail. It is well paced and narrated. Highly recommend it, if Roman /early medieval history is of interest.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- john
- 16-06-21
Exemplary and fascinating
Peter Heather is one of the best contemporary historical writers that I have come across on Audible thus far.
His writing here tends towards the chronological, which for me is a bonus as I always believe that this makes it possible for exciting narrative, with this book you most certainly do get that.
Bizarrely fascinating.
Would seriously recommend this book for anyone either interested in either the collapse of Rome, or conversely Barbarian Tribes of Pannonia and Europe.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- IanESJ
- 22-07-18
Really too long, could have been wrapped up in 3 chapters.
TL;DR
Rome got too big for its boots, couldn’t keep all its plates spinning, let the foreigners get a bit too cocky. Ran out of money. Ok. 4 chapters.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kdl
- 09-02-15
Detailed chronology
Excellent detailed and thoroughly researched - a brilliant book and very well narrated - I listen to it again and again. Anyone interested in Roman history will love this book
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- S. Taylor
- 20-09-21
Fascinating
So much information from start to finish. Scholarly and so entertaining glad I chose this.
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- mr d l martin
- 17-12-22
Great read
Loved it very interesting and very well read more more more please thank you very much
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-04-23
Fascinating book, terrible narration
The book itself, and the information it contains is, on the whole, very good.
The narration, on the other hand, is awful. Flat, almost monotone speech and really bad pronunciation throughout. This is not a criticism of the pronunciation of the Latin words and phrases that appear in the book, but basic English words. Forte being pronounced as fort was a particularly jarring example.
It is a shame, because the performance detracts from the overall enjoyment of an accessible and engaging narrative on an interesting period of Roman history.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Perrylees
- 21-07-17
Aargh
Oh dear. I was so looking forward to this as I was struggling to get through the printed version for one reason or another.
I think it will take me some considerable time to get used to the American presenter and pronunciation.
I'd say I was a tolerant soul but at the moment I'm finding it unlistenable... ☹️
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- MJC
- 04-10-20
Interesting thesis - thoroughly researched
Very clearly presented, an excellent and well argued interpretation of a chaotic period in history. Recommended.
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2 people found this helpful