Ebook: The End of the Ancient World

Translated from the Italian by George Holmes.

Originally published in Italian by Aldo Garzanti Editore as "La fine del mondo antico".

The aim of this book is twofold: on the one hand to describe the history of the ideas of 'decadence' and the 'death of Rome' as they were understood and transformed from the second century B.C. to our own times; on the other to give a modern interpretation of the fall of the ancient world through criticism and discussion of the various solutions and hypotheses. I believe that, considered from this dual point of view, the theme of the 'death of Rome' has a particular interest. We feel the need both to follow through the development of the ideas of 'decadence' and the 'end' of the ancient world and to consider again on our own account what explanation of this 'end' may appear necessary and sufficient to the man of today. Just for this reason however a 'dialogue' of this kind is inexhaustible and I shall be content if I have succeeded at least in bringing out a few of the aspects of this vast theme.