David Frum On Adrian Goldsworthys “how Rome Fell”

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For those readers planning an ambitious summer reading program, I offer over in the Bookshelf a guide to some important recent new books on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, all together masquerading as a review of Adrian Goldsworthy’s new book, How Rome Fell.

Garett Jones // May 20, 2009 at 12:29 am

Thanks for the insightful review: The Ward-Perkins book has been a favorite of mine since it came out. W-P showed that Rome’s economic collapse happened only after its political collapse–and that’s an idea with big lessons for my fellow macroeconomists….

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barker13 // May 20, 2009 at 9:46 am

Damn, David… THANKS! I’ll be reading all three works this summer!BILL

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Mike K // May 20, 2009 at 4:57 pm

I’m reading Goldsworthy’s “Punic Wars” now. Another interesting look at antiquity is in Joel Mokyr’s “The Lever of Riches” on the engineering abilities of Rome. They had a working steam engine in the 4th century. He debates why the Industrial Revolution had to wait until 1500 years later. I’ll read at least the first book you list. There is considerable evidence of the role of disease in the history of Rome. It may be that those roads had a lot to do with their decline just as airlines are causing us trouble. Travelers find new diseases. I have quite a bit about it in my history of disease and medicine.

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barker13 // May 21, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Thanks, Doc! Sounds like a great book; in fact, I just forwarded your recommendation to three engineer friends of mine.Anyone know what the standing of the “slow intergenerational lead poisoning” theory is nowadays?BILL

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