The Ruins; Or, Meditation on the Revolutions of Empires and the Law of Nature

Volney's *The Ruins* is an Enlightenment philosophical meditation, framed by a vision among the ruins of Palmyra, that examines why empires rise and fall and argues for a rational, natural basis for morality and religion. It suits readers interested in Enlightenment thought, comparative religion, and political philosophy. (Note: the 2006 date is a modern reprint; the work was first published in 1791.)