NPR

Best Thing The Roman Empire Ever Did For Us? Collapse, One Author Says

The gripping story of how the end of the Roman Empire was the beginning of the modern world.
Rome's City Hall by an equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. (Andreas Solaro/AFP/Getty Images)

A big rethink of the fall of the Roman Empire. Was it actually an opportunity, rather than a tragedy? Our guest says Rome’s demise cleared the economic path for Europe and the creation of the modern age.

Guests

Walter Scheidel, professor of classics and history at Stanford University. Author of the new book “Escape from Rome: The Failure of Empire and the Road,” among others. ()

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Helping Women Get Better Sleep By Calming The Relentless 'To-do Lists' In Their Heads
A recent survey found that Americans' sleep patterns have been getting worse. Adult women under 50 are among the most sleep-deprived demographics.
NPR4 min read
Got Brothers Or Sisters? Warm Sibling Bonds Help Booster Happiness As You Age
Researchers have found that a warm, close bond with a sibling in early adult life is predictive of good emotional health later in life, with less loneliness, anxiety and depression.
NPR4 min readSocial History
What Abortion Politics Has To Do With New Rights For Pregnant Workers
A new regulation to protect the rights of pregnant workers is the subject of an anti-abortion lawsuit because it includes abortion as a pregnancy "related medical condition."

Related Books & Audiobooks