• The Fall of the Roman Empire

  • A New History of Rome and the Barbarians
  • By: Peter Heather
  • Narrated by: Allan Robertson
  • Length: 21 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (471 ratings)

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

By: Peter Heather
Narrated by: Allan Robertson
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Publisher's 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.

©2006 Peter Heather (P)2014 Audible Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Fall of the Roman Empire

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A New HIstory but not a better history

What disappointed you about The Fall of the Roman Empire?

I have enjoyed several book books on the Roman Empire and on Roman emperors. I am particularly fascinated by the last 150 years of the empire and the decline of the imperial state. This book focuses so narrowly on the barbarian invasions (which certainly played a key role) that it does not give me any consistent idea of the succession of emperors and the lost of governmental control over the provinces that occurred. It is well intended but could have been much better edited to create a more informative text.

I was greatly disappointed.

What could Peter Heather have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He focused too much on the barbarian invasions without clearly identifying the Roman emperors. I had no sense of life in Roman during this time. I have heard other texts that give me a clear sense of the nature of the imperial government and the personalities involved. He focused so narrowly on the barbarian tribes without describing the individual leaders of the Roman empire.

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18 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good book not ideally suited to audiobook format

A very detailed account of the fall of the Roman Empire. If I had the printed book in my hands I would likely give it 5 stars. The mass of detail made me wish that I could flip back and forth in the book to recheck dates and see which of masses of unfamiliar and unpronounceable names had come up before. In addition I wished for maps or illustrations to give a better idea of where all the locations of the narrative were situated. In sum, I found it a very good account that was not ideally suited for the audiobook mode of presentation. I found the author's thesis and particular viewpoint of this period of history compelling and convincing. I learned much that I did not know before, which was my goal, albeit accompanied by some frustration.

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14 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A very interesting listen

Probably one of the most comprehensive histories of the fall of Rome, I've read. I am captivated by how a superpower, whose culture, however violent, was centuries beyond those who sought to destroy it, yet was in the end, brought down by them.

This book demonstrates how Roman corruption, imperialism, and foriegn aid all contributed to their ultimate demise. The fall of Rome didn't happen suddenly or easily, but was the result of a wearing down of the government by internal and external forces working together. So prescient for us today.

The performance was great. A bit slow for me, but with Audible I was easily able to fix that. What I appreciate most in Allan Robertson's read is his and pronounciation. An enjoyable experience.

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12 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What Happened?

Would you listen to The Fall of the Roman Empire again? Why?

This is a well written, informative and engaging book that is well worth the time of anyone interested in the Roman Empire and its demise. Like all history, the devil is in the details, and not as simplistic as individuals may want to think of it. Was the Empire brought down by its own decadence? or had it simply overreached so much to a be unable to deal with increasingly sophisticated "barbarians"who began to use its own tactics and weapons against the mighty legions. It's amazing how quickly the empire went from a strong and organized entity to desolate ruins. The narrator, Allen Robertson, projects this story with a excellent voice.

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11 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enthralling

First, let me gripe. I would have enjoyed this massive analysis better with maps of ancient and modern Europe/Africa in front of me. And given the necessary scope of characters, it would have been better to be able to page back from time to time to refresh my memory regarding one or another of the many important actors in this drama.

Okay... but even with those large reservations, I am far better informed than ever before in my life of the causes for Rome's deterioration and collapse. And Heather's prose work hard against the academic historian's training to write in colorless code. This is not a text book, yet it is not a novel. I feel that a friend took the time to tell me what he's learned in useful detail about a grand puzzle. Like, "The Swerve" I recommend Heather's book and Allan Robertson's reading to anyone more than just modestly curious about how the greatest ancient civilization died.

And its meaning to us.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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An outstanding historical narrative

Where does The Fall of the Roman Empire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the best Audiobook I've listened to. Even without knowing the topic in advance, everything is put forward in a clear and efficient manner. It is also good as history, because the evidence is described for what it is and counter-arguments are considered. If you're interested in the fall of the western Roman empire, I think this is a necessary listen.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Good Science Makes Better History

This is a stupendous history of the late Roman empire . It challenges Gibbons' history and its Enlightenment ideology with a more careful observation of data from archaeology as well as the ancient literature. I loved it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Everything you need to know about the end of Rome

A very thorough survey of the evidence and a balanced analysis of a fascinating topic.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Detailed, compelling, long...

OK, so ya gotta be a Roman history nut to love this... but I did. Hugely detailed, thoroughly researched, then crafted into a compelling narrative. Yes, it is long, but the whole thing took a couple centuries, so what did you expect?

Mr. Heather does a good job of explaining the sources, and makes it clear when he is speculating, or when the sources disagree. There is a lot of information here, and he does an awfully good job of sorting things out so they make sense.

Good stuff.

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New take on old story

If you could sum up The Fall of the Roman Empire in three words, what would they be?

Lucid, comprehensive, compelling

What other book might you compare The Fall of the Roman Empire to and why?

The Information by James Gleick. Captures essence of complex story and conveys insights in understandable way

Have you listened to any of Allan Robertson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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2 people found this helpful