Diocletian
- he rules 284-303
- it's cool to persecute Christians
- Rome needs a big army (400,000 strong)
- Rome needs a big government (20,000 officials)
Constantine
- rules from 306-337
- it's cool to BE a Christian
- conversion to Christianity
- via a cross in the sky (conquer by this!)
- 313- his edict of Milan proclaims freedom of worship
- built a new capital in the East
- Byzantium, soon to be known as Constantinople
The Edict of Milan - was a declaration issued in 313 by the Emperor Constantine which made all religions legal within the Roman Empire, though it was especially intended to legalize Christianity.
Life in the Fourth Century
- county dwellers are getting bankrupted by endless tax collection
- new farming system: peasants work for elite landlords on large farms
- peasants can avoid paying taxes, but they are getting hit just as hard by the landlords
- paying off debts and being "allowed" to live on the land, in exchange for endless back-breaking work
End of Era
from the beginnings..
500 B.C- the monarchy is abolished
45- BC- the 12 tables were established
Through the glory days...
44 BC- end of the line for Julius Caesar
27 BC- 180 AD- Roman Peace (pax romana)
To the bitter end..
constant 5th century invasions by barbarian tribes left the western Roman Empire shattered and crumbling
the last emperor was a teenage boy installed in 475 by his father
barbarians deposed Romulus Ausgustulus without bothering to kill him
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