FROM CHAOS TO RECONSTRUCTION TRYING TO REVIVE THE EMPIRE 284-337 AD
Mar 26, 2015
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