In this groundbreaking work of history, Thomas Hodgkin explores the tumultuous period in the history of Italy known as the 'barbarian invasions'. From the arrival of the Goths and Visigoths in the fourth century to the Lombard conquest of the sixth century, Hodgkin traces the complex political upheavals that transformed Roman Italy into a patchwork of warring states. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including the letters and speeches of the great Roman leaders, this book offers readers a fascinating glimpse into a little-known period of European history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.