This free video lecture examines Chapter 17 of The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire which is a major turning point in the Decline and Fall. The author, historian Edward Gibbon offers his thoughts on the transferring of the capital to Constantinople, and on Constantine's famous vision of the cross. This video comes from the course Books That Matter: The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Learn more about the course and watch the rest of the videos when you start your FREE trial of The Great Courses Plus here: www.TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/show/books_that_matter_the_history_of_the_decline_and_fall_of_the_roman_empire?utm_source=US_OnlineVideo&utm_medium=SocialMediaEditorialYouTube&utm_campaign=150912 About the course: According to his Memoirs, on October 15, 1764, the Enlightenment historian Edward Gibbon discovered his life’s mission: to chronicle the centuries-long collapse of the Roman Empire. The result of this grand endeavor would become one of the greatest works of history ever written. For all its renown as a work of style, elegance, wit, and insight, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire can be intimidating for the armchair historian. Published between 1776 and 1781, the six volumes contain 1.5 million words, an estimated 8,000 footnotes, a cast of 10,000 historical figures, and they span a timeline of more than 1,000 years. Yet, even today, centuries after its original publication, Gibbon’s historical chronicle demands to be read and understood. There are several important reasons for this, according to Dr. Leo Damrosch, Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University: First, while later historians have brought fresh perspectives to the Roman Empire’s collapse, Gibbon’s book remains profoundly truthful in the events it recounts, bringing what Professor Damrosch calls a “unifying, insight-inspiring perspective to the past.” Second, a great work of history is just as much about storytelling as it is about events. Gibbon is a masterful storyteller, and his Decline and Fall still has the ability to hook modern-day readers with its style and manner—just like a great novel. And third, Gibbon was (and remains) a landmark historian who revolutionized the way writers think about and interpret the past. Despite being a product of his time in certain views, his techniques and insights would lay the foundation for generations of future historians. In Books That Matter: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Professor Damrosch invites you on a riveting, 24-lecture examination of this great work from multiple perspectives; as a vast historical chronicle, as a compelling masterpiece of literature, as a sharp commentary on cultural mores, and as a cautionary tale to Enlightenment Europe. An engaging, chapter-by-chapter guide to the Decline and Fall, Professor Damrosch’s course helps you navigate the book’s themes, structure, philosophies, background, and lasting influence. Whether you’ve read the book before and are looking for new ways to think about it, or whether you’ve always wanted to read it but never knew where to start, Professor Damrosch’s lectures are a fascinating, rewarding, and authoritative guide to the enduring legacy of a once-mighty empire—and the great book that became its eulogy and epitaph. With his storytelling prowess and wit, Professor Damrosch reveals the literary brilliance of Gibbon’s work, unearths hidden pockets of humor (and controversy), and brings forth insights you’d otherwise miss on a solitary reading of the Decline and Fall. His immersion in and unparalleled understanding of Gibbon’s unique style and intellectual world make many of his lectures feel like dynamic conversations occurring across the centuries with the author himself. In the opening paragraph of the Decline and Fall, Gibbon describes the centuries-long end of the Roman Empire as “a revolution which will ever be remembered, and is still felt by the nations of the Earth.” The succeeding chapters and volumes, rich in detail and epic in scope, are a pinnacle of history writing. And in 24 lectures, you can finally appreciate why this book matters so much to our understanding of this great “revolution”—and why it still matters to readers (and empires) today. Learn more about this course and start your FREE trial here of The Great Courses Plus here: www.TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/show/books_that_matter_the_history_of_the_decline_and_fall_of_the_roman_empire?utm_source=US_OnlineVideo&utm_medium=SocialMediaEditorialYouTube&utm_campaign=150912 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel – we are adding new videos all the time! www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheGreatCourses Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel – we are adding new videos all the time! www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=TheGreatCourses

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