The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire cover art

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

By: Edward Gibbon
Listen for free

In this library of spoken volumes, the works of Edward Gibbon are restored to the patient ear: a monument of history, reason, irony, and imperial decline. From the ruins of ancient greatness to the slow revolutions of manners, faith, power, and ambition, each reading invites the listener to contemplate, with the historian, how the fortune of empires is composed from the virtues and follies of mankind.Public domain World
Episodes
  • History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 3

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 3
    Jul 4 2026
    In which the conduct of Roman magistrates towards Christians is examined with a judicious eye, revealing a cautious balance between justice and superstition amidst popular clamour and legal restraint. The notable example of Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, illustrates the tempered dangers of persecution and the intricate interplay of prudence, devotion, and imperial authority in the trials of the early church.
    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 2

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 2
    Jul 3 2026
    In which the yet slender and obscure body of Christians under the reigns of early emperors often escaped severe censure, sheltered more by the ignorance and indifference of Roman authorities than by deliberate clemency, until the cruel but localised persecution under Nero brought them momentary infamy and suffering. The narrative then proceeds to display the measured governance of Pliny in the provinces, revealing a legal landscape unformed by imperial edicts and a magistrate’s cautious inquiry into a faith that had not yet been fully apprehended by the empire.
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 1

    History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 2 - Chapter XVI Part 1
    Jul 2 2026
    In which the stern and often misunderstood relations between the Roman government and the early Christians are examined, revealing a complex interplay of religious intolerance, political suspicion, and the steadfast innocence claimed by the persecuted sect. The narrative explores how the Christians’ resolute faith and distinct practices provoked both curiosity and hostility in a polytheistic world, while addressing the often false accusations and misconceptions that coloured their reputation under the emperors from Nero to Constantine.
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet