The Roman Empire

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Diocletian

Divided the empire for better administration

Tetrarchy (2 Augusti, 2 Caesars)

Diocletian retired, forced Maximiam to retire

Chaos followed

Slide 17

Constantine

306-337 AD

Constantine’s father succeeded Maximian as Augustus

Succeeded his father as Caesar

Became 1 of 7 claimants for control

Fought wars to decide emperor

Vision of a burning Christian symbol (chi-rho)

United the troops and gave them courage that "a god" wanted them to win (most were pagans and accepted the protection of any god)

Slide 18

Constantine

Constantinople

Built on Byzantium site

Acceptance of Christianity

Edict of Milan

Eliminated religious contention

Supported Christian religions

St. Helena, churches

Supported pagan religions

Coins, inscriptions, built temples

Nicaean council (325 AD)

Sought to unify doctrine

Used imperial troops to suppress dissent among Christians (Donatists)

Conversion or unity?

Slide 19

Post-Constantine Period

Theodocius I

Strongest post-Constantine emperor

Instituted Christianity as state religion

Goths joined army to fight against Huns

Revolt in Thessalonica (7000 killed)

This was the first confrontation between the church and the state

Theodocius I forced to beg forgiveness (St. Ambrose)

Slide 20

Post-Constantine Period

Ravenna

Rome full of crime, decayed morals

Capital moved to Ravenna

Persians (Parthians)

Attacked eastern providence

Overran the local Roman army

Reinforcement moved to defend the east which weakened the west

Slide 21

Post-Constantine Period

Huns

Central base in Hungary

Warriors feared by Romans and Germans

Attila—last leader

Invaded Gaul

Defeated in 451 AD by a combined army

Moved into Italy and defeated again

Withdrew to Hungary

Slide 22

Post-Constantine Period

Barbarians (illiterate and non-urban)

Settled in Roman territory after pressure from the Huns

Goths split into two groups

Ostrogoths—eastern Europe

Visigoths—moved to Dacia (Romania)

Allowed to live on Roman land

Barbarians compatible with Romans

Visigoths revolted after unfair taxing

Theodosius the Great bought off the Visigoths

Slide 23

Fall of the Roman Empire