According to Gibbon, the Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian invasions in large part due to the gradual loss of
civic virtue among its citizens.[SUP]
[9][/SUP] They had become weak,
outsourcing their duties to defend their Empire to barbarian mercenaries, who then became so numerous and ingrained that they were able to take over the Empire. Romans, he believed, had become
effeminate, unwilling to live a tougher, "manly" military lifestyle. In addition, Gibbon argued that
Christianity created a belief that a better life existed after death, which fostered an indifference to the present among Roman citizens, thus sapping their desire to sacrifice for the Empire.