"Storia della decadenza e rovina dell'impero romano, volume 01" by Edward Gibbon is a historical work published in 1776. This monumental study traces Western civilization from the Roman Empire's peak through the fall of Constantinople. Gibbon examines the behaviors and decisions that led to Rome's prolonged decline and eventual collapse. Drawing on primary sources—unusual for his era—he established a methodological model that earned him recognition as the first modern historian of ancient Rome. His controversial chapters on Christianity's role sparked intense debate and censorship attempts.