After years of painstaking research and writing, Edward Gibbon completed his masterful work The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire on this day in 1787. The six-volume history recounts the lifespan of imperial Rome and how a great empire went into decline. It is considered a historical classic and the first modern history of Rome. The use of primary references set the benchmark for modern historians. Gibbon’s style of writing includes gripping narratives, thoughtful analysis and masterful geography. The volumes contain many lessons on world power and human nature, which are relevant to the times we are living in today.