Gibbon and Toynbee

6. Required Daily (from last unit): Summarize and Compare Gibbon to Toynbee on the End of the Roman Empire.

Gibbon explicates how Christianity played a part in making the Roman Empire fall.  Gibbon believed that, "As the happiness of a future life is the great object of religion, we may hear, without surprise or scandal, that the introduction, or at least the abuse, of Christianity had some influence on the decline and fall of the Roman empire" (Gibbon, Edward. "General Observations on the Fall of the Roman Empire in the West." Medieval Sourcebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gibbon-fall.html>.).  Gibbon's argument is strong when he states that the Church created many conflicts in Rome, which sometimes ended up in bloody battle.  The Barbarians were the type of military that would attack the weakest, easiest target.  For example, Constantine's power corrupted which gave leeway for the Barbarians to destroy the Roman Empire.  Since Constantine converted to Christianity, his rule was less organized, giving the barbarians an easy target for destruction.  At the time, the empire was so frantic and helpless, that they had several emperors that obtained power. The Romans did not realize that such a belief, like Christianity, could cause their entire empire to collapse.  

In Toynbee's writing, he explains how the Christian religion and Church transpired.  Contrary to Gibbon's belief that Christianity greatly influenced the fall of the Roman Empire, he argues that the Church had nothing to do with the fall of the empire.  Toynbee supports his thesis by stating, "I think it really began to decline in the fifth century before Christ. It died not by murder, but by suicide; and that act of suicide was committed before the fifth century B.C. was out" (Toynbee, Arnold. "Christianity and Civilization."Myriobiblos Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/toynbee.html>.). The emperors of Rome wanted everyone to worship them, and that was their mistake.  People, today, have freedom to worship whatever they please, and the Romans should have thought about using this tactic instead of forcing fondness upon their empire. He says that the Christian philosophies came about because Rome had already killed itself by proclaiming itself as a god, which people worshiped.  Toynbee believes that the fall of one civilization will bring success to another in the future.

The opinions stated in the two articles differ greatly from one another.  While Gibbon strongly believes that Christianity influenced the fall of Rome, Toynbee states that the fall had nothing to do with Christianity.  Gibbon says the empire just stopped, and no traditions carry over nowadays.  Toynbee believes that cultures and religion have transferred to modern times.  The two historians do agree on one thing, however: The Roman Empire instigated the Fall itself.  The civilization of Rome is used in modern times as an example of how to NOT run your government.  


"Arnold J. Toynbee." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_J._Toynbee>.


"Edward Gibbon." Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Gibbon>.


"Fall of Rome." the nef triple crunch blog. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://neftriplecrunch.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/90-months-and-counting/>.


Gibbon, Edward. "General Observations on the Fall of the Roman Empire in the West." Medieval Sourcebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/gibbon-fall.html>.


Toynbee, Arnold. "Christianity and Civilization."Myriobiblos Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar 2010. <http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/toynbee.html>.