Storia della decadenza e rovina dell'impero romano, volume 11

The work opens with a vivid portrait of a Christianity that has become entangled with the ambitions of emperors and the restless debates of theologians. From the Council of Nicaea onward, it traces how doctrinal quarrels—over the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and liturgical practice—sowed discord across the empire’s far‑flung provinces. By linking these spiritual battles to the weakening of civic unity, the author shows how faith was both a source of comfort and a catalyst for fragmentation.

A central thread follows the rise of the Paoliziani, a sect rooted in Manichaean ideas that faced relentless persecution under successive rulers. Their forced migration into Armenia and Thrace carried their teachings westward, where they sparked early reformist currents that would echo centuries later. Alongside the story of the Paoliziani, the narrative surveys other marginalized groups—Gnostics, Marcionites, and Manichaeans—revealing how their struggles reflected the empire’s broader cultural and political decay.