193-305 = “Crisis of the Third Century”
Roman Empire has grown too large
193-305 = “Crisis of the Third Century”
Roman Empire has grown too large
Problems = financial, military, lack of influence
193-211 = Emperor Septimius Severus
Military commander-turned-emperor
Precedent of Publius Helvius Pertinax
235-284 = 26 emperors; 17 assassinated Growing external threats
Berber tribes (Africa), Persians, Germanic tribes
Barbarian attacks were getting intense . . . Rome did not adequately protect borders
258-268 = Postumus’s separatist regime Problem of Taxation
Tension between super-rich and everyone else
Poor driven to “banditry” (Bulla the Lucky)
The Germans Consolidation of villages into confederations
Federated Germans vs. anti-Roman Germans
The Gothic Confederation
270-275 = Aurelian
Restored unity, pushed back barbarians
284-305 = Diocletian
Completed Rome’s restoration
Not a “first citizen”, but “lord”
Division of Rome in to East and West
270-275 = Aurelian Restored unity, pushed back
barbarians 284-305 = Diocletian
Completed Rome’s restoration Not a “first citizen”, but “lord”
Division of Rome in to East and West Ruled by “tetrarchy”
Diocletian reforms: Reorganized military Slowed inflation Restructured taxation
305 = Diocletian and Maximian abdicate
Civil war between Maxentiusand Constantine
312 = Constantine wins
312-337 = Constantine rules entire Empire
313 = ends persecution of Christians
324 = established new capital at Byzantium
376 = Huns invade Black Sea region
Destroy Gothic Confederation
378 = Visigoths defeat Rome
410 = Visigoths sack Rome
406 = Vandals invade North Africa
455 = Vandals sack Rome
430s = Huns (led by Attila) invade
Pope Leo I convinces them not to sack Rome
Collapse of the Western Empire
480 = last emperor, Julius Nepos, dies
German general, Theodoric, allowed to invade Italy
Other generals allowed to control other regions
Collapse of the Western Empire
480 = last emperor, Julius Nepos, dies
German general, Theodoric, allowed to invade Italy
Other generals allowed to control other regions
Eastern Empire strengthens
Return to Hellenistic traditions
Lasts another 1000 years
▪ BUT, no longer the Roman Empire
▪ Now, the Byzantine Empire