I know that the first three volumes of "The History of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire" are.....

Question

about the the rise and fall of the Western Roman Empire, what are the last 3 volumes about? The Byzantine Empire?

Answer 1

Edward Gibbons 'The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' - interesting reading - right up to the part where he blames Christianity for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

The later part of his book - from chapter 10, looks at the Persecution of heresy, the state of the early chuch and empire under Constantine and his own sons. Moving on to Julian and the successors of Constanine. Chapters XIII thru to XV look at the movement of the Germanic tribes and the reactions of the Eastern Emperors to the pressures put on the empire - to the fall of the Western Empire.

The last part XVI looks at the state of the Eastern empire in the 6th Century. Also covers the rise of Islam, the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Finishes off with Gibbons conclusions of the whole work.

Answer 2

The whole bag of wax, as Gibbons saw it. Byzantium. But also the rise of Islam and of Christianity during the Dark Ages.