The Modern Scholar: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

By: Thomas F. Madden

Narrated by: Thomas F. Madden

Even millennia after its fall, the grand expanse of Roman achievement continues to affect not only American society, but the entire world as well. What caused a civilization of such accomplishments to disintegrate? In this informative and lively series of lectures, renowned history professor Thomas F. Madden serves as the ultimate guide through the fall of ancient Rome. Professor Madden correlates the principles of Roman conduct - both governmental and military - that would forever change the world. Rome was an empire unlike the world had ever seen, and one that will likely never be duplicated. Peopled with personages of great distinction and even greater ambition, at once notable for humanity's great promise and flawed nature, the Roman Empire contributed many of history's proudest advancements. Here Professor Madden invites audiences to explore all the grandeur of this fallen empire.Download the accompanying reference guide.©2008 Thomas F. Madden (P)2008 Recorded Books

Rise & Fall: Emperors, Army, Church & Barbarians

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Although the title says "Decline and Fall," this lecture series is not just a summary of Gibbons' famous work of the same name.

This series focuses on governance and political power. Military History, Scandals, the Arts, Religion, Famous Biographies, Technology, and the Culture of Daily Life are only mentioned if they have direct relevance or influence on the ebb and flow of power during the 500 or so Empire years.

Professor Madden presents a clear and easy to follow explanation of who held power in Rome from the death of the Republic to the Barbarian removal of the last Emperor of the West. He traces the rise and fall of dynastic imperial families like the Julio-Claudians, Flavians and Antonines. He explains the military's power to decide the Emperor of their choice. He explains how prominent Christians went from dying in the arena to living and ruling in the palace. And finally, he illustrates how Rome's international relations with Barbarians led to the final sacking and the end of imperial self-rule.

This lecture series isn't a bells and whistles account of all the crazy things that occurred during the Roman Empire. It's a clear and concise framework that puts the trivia into context. This is basic knowledge that will enrich listeners' understanding of any further encounter with information about the ancient Roman Empire. This is the bare historical foundation that's solid enough to let you build on it as high as you please.

Good for a review

This book is really like attending a class lecture--replete with slips and the normal repetitions one hears in lectures. I'm not sure it's a great start if you know nothing about Roman history. But as a refresher course or an overview if you plan to read more, it's pretty good. There are a couple of annoying pronunciations (Pompey gets pronounced as if it were the city Pompeii). They are good lectures--interesting and easy to listen to.

Great Introduction to Roman History

I haven't learned Roman history since about 9th grade and I had forgotten almost all of it. I found this to be a very useful refresher that was interesting and thoughtful. If you're a Roman history buff, this is probably not for you. But, if you're like me and just kinda curious, it's definitely a worthwhile entry point. I've already bought two other books on Roman history that go deeper.

Excellent Coverage

If you like documentaries or enjoy talks on historical topics then all of the Modern Scholar series is for you. This particular series is excellent coverage of such a wide topic. Not getting lost or sidetracked, but also not so wide an overview that you feel you missed out.

Professor Madden is well versed and an interesting speaker, who occasionally searches for a word or loses a thought, but who wouldn't if you were talking for hours. I think other reviewers have been way too harsh on him.

I especially love his unbiased approach to history. A lot of this, and other lectures of his has to do with early Christianity, and its many schisms. I cannot tell you if he is a Protestant, Catholic, or Atheist, and I cannot tell you how rare this is with history professors. Their attempts at an unbiased presentation are usually so blatantly an "attempt" and their talks are very colored one way or another. After 4 lectures I haven't been able to pin any view point on him and while this may not matter to other listeners, this has really made me trust his information a great deal.

Comprehensive and entertaining

Madden's 'Decline and Fall' is more a history of Rome, beginning with the fall of the Republic, to the collapse of the empire, than an actual argument about what caused the fall.

One of the puzzling questions he poses is, why didn't Rome fall in the mid 200s? Everything went wrong for the Romans during that period. At one point, the provinces of what we now call France, Spain, and Great Britain, actually broke away from Rome and formed their own mini empire.

Rome was also in an economic tailspin, with the currency so utterly devalued that almost no one would accept Roman coins. Even the Roman government refused to be paid taxes using Roman coins. Instead, barter was accepted, with oil, or grain, used in place of currency.

No one lasted as emperor for more than a year or two, and the army periodically refused to fight for the emperor if it looked like the opposing army was larger.

How Rome survived, and even thrived, later on, makes for fascinating listening.