Transcript Late Roman Empire

Late Roman Empire
• Pax Romana
– “Roman Peace”
• 27BC to 180AD
– Roman Empire in its prime.
• Series of good emperors.
– Characterized by the
Romanization of much of the
western world.
• Following the Pax Romana,
Rome had a series of emperors
who were generals.
– Barracks Emperors (200’s AD)
• 17 emperors over 50 years.
• Seized power through force and
violence.
• Two emperors will breathe
new life into Rome before its
collapse
– Late Roman Empire
Pax Romana
Diocletian
• Effective control was
reestablished by
Diocletian (Late 200s
AD)
– Divided the Empire
into four districts
• Ruled by himself, a coemperor, and two
"caesars.“
• Permanently divided
the Empire.
Constantine
• Constantine (Early 300s
AD) expanded upon
Diocletian’s policies.
– Built an entirely new
capital – Byzantium.
• Rome = west.
• Byzantium = east.
– Declared tolerance of
Christianity.
• Edict of Milan
• Council of Nicea
• First Christian Emperor
So why did the Roman
Empire decline and fall?