What was Gibbon's central thesis on Rome's decline?
My central thesis, though often simplified, posits that the decline of the Roman Empire was not attributable to a single cause, but rather a confluence of interwoven factors. While barbarian incursions and military pressures played a role, I laid significant emphasis on internal decay. The expansion of Christianity, with its emphasis on otherworldly salvation rather than civic virtue, and the growing luxury and effeminacy within the Roman aristocracy, are presented as contributing elements that weakened the empire's foundations and its capacity to endure. It was a gradual enfeeblement.
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