Hellenic Society & Roman Society Online Course
6.00pm - 7.30pm (UK time) + recordings will be available
Bruce Gibson: The Idea of Decline: Make Rome Great Again?
This online course looks at the idea of decline, both in the ancient world and in later periods. Decline as a concept emerges as something which is deeply rooted and even something which is paradoxically appealing and convenient as an idea, often exploited by those seeking to advance political or social agendas.
Session 1 - 14 January:
Introduction: Ancient Perspectives on Political Decline
This session briefly introduces the idea of decline as something whose resonances continue to echo right down to the present day. The main focus of the session will be on ancient approaches to political decline. Authors considered during the session will include Herodotus, Xenophon, Polybius and Tacitus.
Session 2 - 21 January:
Decline and Moral Criticism: Writing Decline
The second session will turn to ideas of moral decline in the ancient world. Moral decline is sometimes simply observed, but on occasions it is an idea that can be exploited for other purposes. Authors who will be considered during this session include Hesiod, Thucydides, Sallust and Lucan.
Session 3 - 28 January:
Looking at the fall of the Roman empire
This session will look at ancient responses to events of the fourth and fifth centuries that are often referred to as the fall of the Roman empire. The main focus will be on seeing the representation of change and decline.
Session 4 - 4 February:
The irresistible lure of decline
This session turns to the reception of ancient decline in later periods and will include consideration of Gibbon’s highly influential approach to the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Session 5 - 11 February
The rhetoric of decline in contemporary society
The final session of the course looks at the resonance of decline as a concept in current political and social discourse. Ancient decline is frequently evoked and exploited in such contexts. More broadly, the idea of decline can be a powerful rhetorical weapon which can be used to advance political agendas.
Bruce Gibson is Professor of Latin at the University of Liverpool. His research interests include praise oratory, the Latin poetry of the early empire (especially Statius) and Greek and Roman historiography. His publications include Statius, Silvae 5. Edited with Introduction, Translation and Commentary (Oxford 2006), Polybius and his World (jointly edited with Thomas Harrison, Oxford 2013) and Pliny the Younger in Late Antiquity (a special issue of Arethusa jointly edited with Roger Rees, 2013). He has also served as an Editor of Classical Quarterly from 2011 to 2025. He is currently working on a commentary on Pliny’s Pangegyricus and completing a volume co-edited with Roger Rees on Praising Constantine.
Fees and Practical Information
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Members of the Hellenic Society and Roman Society may book at a heavily discounted rate.
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Hellenic Society and Roman Society Members: £60
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Hellenic Society and Roman Society Student Members: £30
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After booking, and before the course starts, you will receive an email with the Zoom link and any preparatory reading.
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The course will be held on our Zoom platform. You will be able to ask questions using the chat or Q&A functions. It is not necessary to have a microphone or camera.
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Some courses will include optional additional reading / documents. If so, these will be held on Google Drive and you will be sent the link.
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