Edward Gibbon · Civilisations

Could It Happen Again?

What the fall of Rome teaches about the fate of civilisations - and Gibbon’s own surprising verdict on whether modern civilisation could suffer the same fate.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Gibbon’s history raises the question of whether modern civilisation could fall like Rome, and that he gave a cautiously hopeful answer. Reconstruct his reasoning and the debate over it, in your own words.

Leads to Arnold Toynbee.

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