The death of the Roman Empire is one of the perennial mysteries of world history. Now, in this groundbreaking book, Peter Heather proposes a stunning new solution: Rome generated its own nemesis. Centuries of imperialism turned the neighbors it called barbarians into an enemy capable of dismantling the Empire that had dominated their lives for so long. Heather is a leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians. In The Fall of the Roman Empire, he explores the extraordina...

The epic story of the inevitable fall of Rome's gloryIn The Fall of the Roman Empire, Peter Heather skillfully weaves a captivating tale of an ancient and long-lasting superpower that crumbled within the short space of a century. Its downfall was not instigated by massive rebellions or towering foes but by a small group of German-speaking asylum-seekers who audaciously defeated a vast Roman army and killed an Emperor, slowly eroding the bedrock of an empir...

Between the fall of the western Roman Empire in the fifth century and the collapse of the east in the face of the Arab invasions in the seventh, the remarkable era of the Emperor Justinian (527-568) dominated the Mediterranean region. Famous for his conquests in Italy and North Africa, and for the creation of spectacular monuments such as the Hagia Sophia, his reign was also marked by global religious conflict within the Christian world and an outbreak of plague that some have compared to ...

In 476 AD the last of Rome’s emperors was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun’s henchmen, and the imperial vestments were despatched to Constantinople. The curtain fell on the Roman Empire in Western Europe, its territories divided between successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But if the Roman Empire was dead, the dream of restoring it refused to die. In many parts of the old Empire, real Romans still lived, holding on to their land...

At the start of the first millennium AD, southern and western Europe formed part of the Mediterranean-based Roman Empire, the largest state western Eurasia has ever known, and was set firmly on a trajectory towards towns, writing, mosaics, and central heating. Central, northern and eastern Europe was home to subsistence farmers, living in wooden houses with mud floors, whose largest political units weighed in at no more than a few thousand people. By the year 1000, Mediterranean domination...

**Brought to you by Penguin.A major new reinterpretation of Christendom, by one of our foremost medieval historians**In the fourth century AD, a new faith exploded out of Palestine. Overwhelming the paganism of Rome, and converting the Emperor Constantine in the process, it resoundingly defeated a host of other rivals. Almost a thousand years later, all of Europe was controlled by Christian rulers, and the religion, ingrained within culture and society, exercised a monolith...

What can the fall of Rome teach us about the decline of the West today? A historian and a political economist, both experts in their field, investigateOver the last three centuries, the West rose to dominate the planet. Then, suddenly, around the turn of the millennium, history reversed. Faced with economic stagnation and internal political division, the West has found itself in rapid decline.This is not the first time the global order has witnessed such a ...

Brought to you by Penguin.Over the last three centuries, the West rose to dominate the planet. Then, suddenly, around the turn of the millennium, history reversed. Faced with economic stagnation and internal political division, the West has found itself in freefall.This is not the first time the global order has witnessed such a dramatic rise and fall. The Roman Empire followed a similar arc from dizzying power to disintegration - a fact that is more than a...

A Guide to Meaningful Parent-Son ConversationsDo you know what your son really thinks about girls, school, God, his future? It's not easy to be sure, is it? Boys aren't known for being great communicators, especially entering their teen years. How do you connect with him on the things that are important to both of you?Based on tried-and-true parenting wisdom, this book shares fun, thoughtful questions and talking points that lead to meaningful, natural conv...

Many parents suffer from depression after having a baby. This can be both debilitating and distressing for the parent and their family. Depression in the postpartum period often goes unrecognised, leaving parents struggling with its impact. Early identification and treatment of postpartum depression is essential in order to promote the best outcome possible for parents and their babies. This book covers goal setting, encourages helpful behaviours that reduce the depressive symptoms as well...

A Guide to Meaningful Parent-Daughter ConversationsYour daughter is growing up. There are so many issues she'll face, such as body image, confusion about relationships, and taking ownership of her spiritual life. How do you connect with her on the things that are important to both of you? This structured approach to conversations and activities with your girl will make it easier to have those memorable times together. You'll find practical ways to encourage her in ...

Many parents suffer from depression after having a baby. This can be both debilitating and distressing for the parent(s) and their families. Depression in the postpartum period often goes unrecognised, leaving parents struggling with its impact. Early identification and treatment of postpartum depression is essential in order to promote the best outcome possible for parents and their babies. This book provides a step-by-step guide of an evidence-based treatment for postpartum depression an...