FROM CHAOS TO RECONSTRUCTIONTRYING TO REVIVE THE EMPIRE 284-337

AD

FROM UPHEAVAL TO STABILITY

• POST 5 GOOD EMPERORS RULERS ABLE BUT AMBITIOUS

• MILITARY RULERS & LAW YIELDED TO THE SWORD• WHAT KEPT EMPIRE INTACT WAS INSTITUTIONS: CIVIL

SERVICE, PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, ARMY• 20 EMPERORS IN 49 YEARS – LACK OF CONTINUITY• AT TIMES PARTS OF EMPIRE DOMINATED BY GENERALS • AGE OF BARRACKS EMPERORS – ALL MILITARY• FREE FOR ALL FOR BARBARIAN INVASIONS• RISE OF DIOCLETIAN BRINGS SEMBLANCE OF ORDER

284

DIOCLETIAN 284-305 & HIS PALACE AT NICOMEDIA

FROM PRINCEPS TO DOMINUS

• ENDS LONG PERIOD OF STRIFE

• RECONSTRUCTS EMPIRE• RESTORED ROME TO

PEACE & SECURITY• ABSOLUTE AUTOCRAT• EASTERN MONARCH• “THE ELECT OF GOD”

DIVINE FAVOR• INFLUENCE OF EAST &

ALL THE IMPERIAL TRAPPINGS OF COURT

GETTING A HANDLE ON THE EMPIRE

TOO LARGE FOR ONE MAN – SPLIT IN 1/2• WESTERN & EASTERN ROMAN

EMPIRE• DIOCLETION EAST – AUGUSTUS

WEST• 2 ADMINISTRATORS – CAESAR’S• TETRARCHY – RULE OF 4 BUT

DIOCLETIAN CLEARLY SENIOR• DIVISION OF EAST & WEST STILL

FURTHER INTO SMALL DIOCESES & FURTHER INTO SMALLER PROVINCES

• UNITY OF TETRARCHS WITH HANDS ON SHOULDERS BUT OTHER HAND ON THE SWORD

• CORNER OF ST. MARKS CATHEDRAL VENICE

REPAIRING THE ECONOMY

• CURB INFLATION- FIXED MAX. PRICES & WAGES – 1ST TIME EVER

• PAYMENT OF TAXES IN GOODS & STRESS ON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• DECLINE OF CITIES, TRADE, COMMERCE

• MINES EXHAUSTED, MERCHANTS LEFT RUINED AREAS & BROUGHT THEIR SKILLS & COMMERCE W/ THEM

• COUNTRYSIDE CAN’T FEED CITY

• PEOPLE LOCKED INTO JOBS

THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE306-337 AD

RESTORATION OF THE EMPIRE

• SPLIT BETWEEN EAST AND WESTERN EMPIRES PERMANENT

• SON OF 1 TETRARCH – SUCCESSION NOT PEACEFUL

• VICTORY AT MILVIAN BRIDGE 312 GAVE HIM CONTROL OF WEST

• EDICT OF MILAN 313 MADE CHRISTIANITY LEGAL IN EMPIRE, CONVERTS ON HIS DEATH BED

ARCH OF CONSTANTINE - GIFT FROM SENATECOMMEMORATES VICTORY OVER MAXENTIUS IN 312SCENES FROM VICTORIES OF M. AURELIUS & TRAJANPIECES TAKEN FROM A MONUMENT TO HADRIAN

A NEW CAPITAL - BYZANTIUM• EASILY DEFENDED

• GEOGRAPHICALLY STRATEGIC

• FREE FROM ROMAN TRADITIONS

• DEDICATED 330 AD• BYZANTIUM RENAMED

CONSTANTINOPLE AT HIS DEATH

• NEW ERA UNTIL 1453