If Rome Hadn't Fallen: What Might Have Happened If the … (2024)

As others have said, it is poorly organized. Information is repeated with no reference to the previous content. Sometimes it sounds like two comic book guys arguing over whether superman or the hulk would win in a fight with references to specific issues of comics and digressions into whether movies or TV shows count. By that I mean there is a lot of detailed and accurate information but the telling jumps back and forth, repeats, as I have said before, and assumes knowledge that the reader may or may not know. Possible branch points are mentioned and then not explored. They come one after another. There are dozens and dozens of possible branches mentioned and I have no suggestions on what would have been a good way to handle them, but there must have been a better way.

If you are already familiar with the history of the Roman Empire, both eastern and western, as well as the Dark Ages and the Arab invasions, then this book would be interesting for you. It is just not an easy read.

me gustó mucho la primera parte del libro que hablaba de la caída de Roma y los días finales del ejercito, a pesar de que como el autor argumenta cuando hablamos de la caída de Roma realmente hablamos de el fin del mandato imperial más no de Roma como tal porque como sabemos muchas de sus instituciones (sistema legal, religión, estructura militar, idioma y cultura) continuaron. la segunda parte del libro es pura especulación, entonces en la mayoría de ocasiones me terminaba pensando en cuál era el punto de hacer conjeturas hasta puntos tan específicos. de todas formas me pareció interesante ver el punto de vista y las cosas desde la perspectiva que el libro las presenta.

This book will make the reader ponder how history is made, how susceptible it is to odd and diverse influences, and how major changes in the course of human history were often decided by mentally ill or incompetent persons or by the forces of nature. The content is fascinating and well researched; however, it is poorly organized and a bit hard to follow (even for someone familiar with ancient Roman history); thus, I didn't give it five stars. As a result of his research, the author has solid arguments as to what the world would look like if the Roman Empire had survived. Germany would have been Romanized as were the Gauls (France, Belgium, etc.), and WWI and WWII would not have happened since there would be no cultural differences between France and Germany. In addition, it would have been the Roman Empire that colonized the Americas and set off the industrial revolution. All of this could have happened if Rome had had a viable system to transfer power from one emperor to another. That lack was the great weakness of the Roman Empire. Rome had plenty of great leaders; however, all too often they were not able to rule. The author also draws attention to the fact that historians before the 20th century believed that history was determined by the decisions and actions of strong individuals at particular points in time. In the 20th century, however, most historians discarded this view and held that the course of human events was determined by broad social and cultural trends, and that individuals had little or no impact on history. However, most modern historians now believe that both individuals and social/cultural trends determine the course of human history. If the Roman Empire had had a seamless system to transfer power, it may well have been able to survive the social pressures of the ages and rule the western world into the present time. Of course we can never know what might have been, but "If Rome Hadn't Fallen" is a fascinating glimpse into a possible future.

This book's subtitle is: How the Survival of Rome Might Have Changed World History. When the author writes "Rome" he is referring to Rome's Western Empire, which collapsed circa the year 500, not Rome's Eastern Empire which survived until 1453.

This is a "what if" book. Speculation upon speculation for connoisseurs of Roman history to read, ponder, and play with. Rome didn't actually fall, to be precise. It splintered and adapted and evolved.

But what if Ancient Rome didn't splinter?

What if the Germans were conquered?

What if the immigrants were embraced rather than repulsed?

What if the Germans became Rome's trusted allies?

This is a popular subject for writers of speculative historical fiction. There are various historical fiction series that work from a premise that Rome never fell, or that a sliver of Ancient Rome survives into the present day.

The author poses that there were 9 key turning points in Ancient Roman history, and 19 speculated consequences of those turning points. He goes into each in great detail. You really need to know your Roman history to appreciate this book. The author clearly knows his, and he is especially knowledgeable about Roman warfare.

The main premise of speculative history is expressed by the author thus:
"One person's actions can alter the course of history, and a political or military mischance can touch off a catastrophic reaction that has repercussions over centuries."

If your Roman history is up to it, then this is a rollicking ride through what-if land. Hold on and go for it!

Please read my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...

Unfortunately I abandoned this book a third of the way through. It reminded me of why I dropped ancient history at university and focused on archaeology. It is extremely dry and boring, page after page of names and dates, events and relationships. The book does not captivate the reader and truly make them wonder what might have been, it sedates them and makes them wonder if the Western Empire collapsed because somehow Venning transported his book back in time and everyone read it!

A little dry and not what I expected, but as a reference work very informative.it was interesting to note some caricatures from fictional books I have read did appear in this work. Although saying that the last chapter was the best.

Repetitive and poorly organised. There is a lot of detail but he keeps saying the same things both within a chapter and in the following chapter

This book would be very good for absorbing spills because it is so dry.