The Fall of Rome

In The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization, Bryan Ward-Perkins argues that the current "peaceful transformation" theory of the Roman Empire into the Medieval period is wrong. For the author it is a time of decline, dislocation, and fear that destroyed Rome as it was known and set back the West's standard of living. He attacks current popular theories with archaeological evidence and explores the consequences of Rome's decline on the lives of everyday people that once lived under the Roman umbrella. He explains the fear of the barbarian invasions and occupation, as well as the after effects on the economy, agriculture, political system, architecture, writing, industry, and household materials. All of which declined or collapsed.

Many scholars today don't want to put forth the idea of civilization decline. They point to the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantium Empire) as the example that Rome (the Western Empire) simply transformed and did not fall. They mostly ignore the idea that by the time of the fall both West and East were for all intense and purposes different entities by the time of Rome's fall. Mr. Ward-Perkins fells that the biases of other scholars and academics play a large role in these views they put forth.

All in all this was a very interesting book to read. The author put forth evidence for his argument. Read this book and see if you agree with him or not.