This seminal work of history is a comprehensive and engaging account of the collapse of the Roman Empire from the second century through the medieval period. Gibbon's meticulous research and elegant prose make this a classic of historical writing, and his insights into the cultural and political forces that shaped the decline of Rome continue to influence scholars to this day. This edition includes all six volumes of Gibbon's masterwork, as well as extensive notes and annotations.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.