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The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians

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The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians

By: John Bagnell Bury
Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
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Summary

 In the last half of the fourth century, the Roman Empire began to feel the stress of renewed pressure on its borders as Germanic and Asian tribes moved westward. As these tribes settled, they began to form alliances and to convert to Christianity.

But when these very capable tribesmen began to enlist in the Roman military, the empire began to fall under the control of mercenary soldiers. Men like the gifted Vandal Stilicho became supreme commanders and wielded enormous influence at a very crucial period in Roman history. But though the various German tribes were dangerous, they did not menace the Roman civilization in the same way as the feared Huns, who destroyed everything in their path.

In this brilliant history, you will learn why Atilla turned his devouring hordes into Gaul, and how he came within a heartbeat of controlling all of Europe. Discover the truth behind the heroic legends of powerful men like Alaric, Theodoric, and Clovis, and the amazing journeys of tribes like the Visigoths, the Ostrogoths, the Franks, the Vandals, and the Lombards. And as you listen, you will also come to understand the underpinnings of the modern European nation state.

Public Domain (P)2009 Audio Connoisseur Ancient Europe Emotionally Gripping Military
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As the previous reviewer has mentioned, it's a little dry. But it is packed with information and broken up into nice-sized chapters of 20 minutes or so each.

I have a limited passing interest in the subject, and found it an interesting listen. But it's clear from parts of the book that it was written soon after WW2, making me wonder if some of the theories presented have in fact been replaced thanks to modern research into the period.

s'alright really

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It is largely a narrative history of the fall and aftermath of the Western Roman empire from the late 4th C to early 6th C, with descriptions of the various successor states. As it covers part of the same ground in a similar style, I can't help but compare it to Gibbon's Decline and Fall, but, despite being far more focused, it falls short.

First, on a side note, I find Charlton Griffin's narration qute distracting. Some of his pronunciation, emphasis and intonation is a bit odd to me. I'll put up with it though, because he narrated quite a lot of Greek and Roman history...

The first few chapters cover a collapsing Roman Europe, and, while it's a decent quick overview, nothing seemed particularly insightful and I found it quite boring. After the first sack of Rome, however, the focus shifts from the Romans to the various Germanic successor states and became gradually less of a narrative history and more of a description of life in each of kingdoms. This really piqued my interest, but then it ended quite abruptly. A chapter on Lombard law, and the suddenly, end credits. No conclusion of any sort.

I suppose it's a reasonable end point (if not then, then when?), but the introduction (if I recall correctly) seemed to include the later Slavic invasions of eastern Europe within scope of the work, so I was surprised there wasn't anything on them, or a note on Justinian's reconquests (beyond a few vague hints), Or much about any of the longer lived kingdoms beyond their foundation (with the slight exception of the history of Francia carrying on as far as Clovis). Once invading stops in an area, the narrative moves to the next invasion hotspot and once there's a lull in the invading, the end.

Finally, I agree with the other reviews saying it's dry and academic, but I personally like dry and academic.

interesting but flawed

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Pretty dry stuff delivered by a supercilious academic. OK if you are studying a masters in the subject.

Academic tome

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