Late Roman EmpireLate Roman Empire

284 – 476284 – 476Diocletian to Romulus Diocletian to Romulus

AugustulusAugustulus

Crisis and ReformCrisis and Reform

Rome in 2Rome in 2ndnd-3-3rdrd centuries: a period centuries: a period of remarkable instabilityof remarkable instabilityMilitary and government corruptionMilitary and government corruptionFinancial mismanagementFinancial mismanagementSocial unrest and rebellionSocial unrest and rebellion

Late Roman EmpireLate Roman Empire Reign of Diocletian (284-305)Reign of Diocletian (284-305) Diocletian Reforms:Diocletian Reforms:

- division of Empire, East (Byzantium) and West - division of Empire, East (Byzantium) and West (Rome). Split of Empire accompanied by an increase in (Rome). Split of Empire accompanied by an increase in administrative and bureaucratic inefficiencyadministrative and bureaucratic inefficiency- tetrarchy (four prefectures)- tetrarchy (four prefectures)

- division into diocese [GK: dioíkèsis: - division into diocese [GK: dioíkèsis: housekeeping; cf. economy: oikos housekeeping; cf. economy: oikos

nomos]nomos] - Great Persecution of Christians 303-311. Christianity, - Great Persecution of Christians 303-311. Christianity,

though though tolerated since 1tolerated since 1stst century, is now viewed with suspicion, century, is now viewed with suspicion, and and believed to be weakening the empire.believed to be weakening the empire.

ConstantineConstantine

Emperor in Rome from 306Emperor in Rome from 306Ruled both east and west between 324 Ruled both east and west between 324

and 337and 337Edict of Milan, 313, ends Christian Edict of Milan, 313, ends Christian

persecutionpersecution conversion to Christianityconversion to Christianity

Founding of “Constantinople” in 330Founding of “Constantinople” in 330Founded in eastern capital of ByzantiumFounded in eastern capital of ByzantiumAdmiration for culture and wealth of eastAdmiration for culture and wealth of eastGrowing disinterest in Rome and the westGrowing disinterest in Rome and the west

Early Christian debateEarly Christian debate

Debate within Christianity on the Debate within Christianity on the relationship between Jesus and God. The relationship between Jesus and God. The followers of followers of AriusArius maintained that Jesus’s maintained that Jesus’s nature was similar to the divine (but not nature was similar to the divine (but not identical). This means that they didn’t identical). This means that they didn’t believe that Jesus was in fact divine. The believe that Jesus was in fact divine. The followers of followers of AthanasiusAthanasius argued that the argued that the natures of God and Jesus were identical. To natures of God and Jesus were identical. To resolve this dispute, Constantine issued the resolve this dispute, Constantine issued the Nicene CreedNicene Creed, which supported , which supported Athanasius.Athanasius.

Factors Contributing to the Factors Contributing to the decline of Romedecline of Rome

Enormous bureaucracy (in west and Enormous bureaucracy (in west and east) and general corruptioneast) and general corruption

Non-Roman armies loyal to generalsNon-Roman armies loyal to generalsFinancial chaos; inflation; unstable Financial chaos; inflation; unstable

tax basetax base Infrastructure decaying; interest and Infrastructure decaying; interest and

attention shifting to Constantinopleattention shifting to ConstantinopleRise of ChristianityRise of ChristianityGermanic invasionsGermanic invasions

Literary CultureLiterary Culture

““Fathers of the Church”: chiefly Fathers of the Church”: chiefly responsible for early notions of the responsible for early notions of the Church, the mass, theologyChurch, the mass, theology

AmbroseAmbrose: trained in Greco-Roman : trained in Greco-Roman classics; opposed the Arian heresy; classics; opposed the Arian heresy; developed liturgy & hymnsdeveloped liturgy & hymns

JeromeJerome: translation of the Bible into Latin : translation of the Bible into Latin (from Greek and Hebrews)(from Greek and Hebrews)

AugustineAugustine: theology, orthodoxy: theology, orthodoxy City of God (City of God (De Civitate DeiDe Civitate Dei))

ConstantineConstantine

DiocletianDiocletian

St. AugustineSt. Augustine

Roman mosaicsRoman mosaics

Roman mosaicsRoman mosaics