History of the Roman Empire founder of the brief Flavian dynasty, to be followed by the Nerva–Antonine dynasty which produced the "Five Good Emperors": Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and the philosophically inclined Marcus Aurelius. In the view of the Greek historian Dio Cassius, a contemporary observer, the accession of the emperor Commodus in 180 AD marked the descent "from a kingdom of gold to one of rust and iron"—a famous comment which has led some historians, notably Edward Gibbon, to take Commodus' reign as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire. In 212, during the reign of Caracalla, Roman citizenship was granted
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) magazine included "Arthur" on their "100 Best Albums of the 20th Century" in 1999, and in 2003 "Mojo" featured the album on their list of the "Top 50 Most Eccentric Albums". The album was also included in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". All songs written by Ray Davies, except when noted. Print articles Bibliography Album notes Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is the seventh studio album by English rock band the Kinks, released in October 1969. Kinks frontman Ray Davies