1. Diocletian to Constantine to Justinian
Roman Empire, Part 2
Diocletian to Constantine to Justinian

2. Flavian Emperors
Vespasian – sent by Nero to put down revolt in Judea, Colosseum, sent Titus to Judea to destroy Temple in 70 AD
Titus – Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculaneum, finished Colosseum
Domitian – brother of Titus

3. The Five Good Emperors Nerva 96-98 -
Trajan – adopted by Nerva (non-blood relative)
Hadrian – tried to build temple on site of Solomon’s Temple, 3-year war ensued, Hadrian’s Wall, Picts
Antonius Pius
Marcus Aurelius – stoic philosopher, Meditations, Pax Romana ends, possibly died of Plague of Galen

4. Commodus and Diocletian
Commodus – brutal, loved gladiatorial contests
Diocletian –divided empire into Tetrarchy, lots of Christian persecution
Tetrarchy – East had one “Augustus” and one “Caesar”, West had one “Augustus” and one “Caesar”, 20 years
East: Diocletian and Galerius
West: Maximian and Constantius I

5. Diocletian’s Division of the Empire

6. The Tetrarchy Chaos Begins
305 AD – Maximian and Diocletian abdicated, Constantius and Galerius raised to Augustus
Flavius Valerius Severus and Maximinus raised to Caesar (2nd tetrarchy)
306 – Constantius died, Severus promoted but troops supported the son, Constantine
307 - Maxentius, son of Maximian, also claimed Augustus, had Severus murdered
Retired Diocletian and Maximian appointed West: Licinius and Constantine, East: Galerius and Maximinus

7. Constantine the Great, 306-337
– Civil War,
Battle of Milvian Bridge 312 – “In this sign, conquer.” (Cross), defeated Maxentius
Others died in battle of naturally
– Constantine (West) and Licinius (East) last two standing
Edict of Milan 313 – Constantine and Licinius, property returned to Christians, made Christianity legal
324 – defeats Licinius, becomes sole emperor of Roman Empire, Constantinople founded (New Rome)
Mother Helena – finds True Cross
325 AD - 1st Council of Nicea – combats the heresy Arianism, Creed, date of Pascha (Easter)

8. Battle of Milvian Bridge (Renaissance 15th C.)

9. St. Helen Finds True Cross

10. 1st Council of Nicea

11. Barbarian Invasions
410 AD - Alaric of the Visigoths (Arians) sacks Rome
– Vandals (Arians) take N. Africa and invade Spain
Attila the Hun, took over from brother Bleda
Eastern Roman Empire paid tribute
451 – lost Battle of Catalaunian Plains
452 – persuaded by Pope Leo not to attack Rome
455- 2nd sack by Vandals

13. Hun Empire

14. Meanwhile…over in the East
AD - Justinian “Last of the Romans”, Empress Theodora ruled alongside wisely
Codified law in Twelve Tables
Builds Hagia Sofia
Belisarius – favorite general, successful in Persia and won back Africa from Vandals, won Italy back temporarily
Stopped Latin in government, switched to Greek

15. Hagia Sofia

16. Just before reconquest

17. Just after reconquest

18. Loss of Italy again

19. The state of the West Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Vandals all weakened
Franks poised to fill the vacuum left
Christianity still the predominant religion
Pope still in Rome
Merovingian Dynasty of the Franks starts with Clovis (Louis)
– Clovis conquers many parts of Gaul
Converted to Roman Catholicism

20. Growth of The Franks

21. Byzantine Empire after Justinian
High taxes to pay for western wars
Persia attacked Byzantines
632 - Emperor Heraclius eventually prevailed, sacks Persepolis
Both empires devastated, unprepared for invading Arab armies from Arabia and Syria
Many territories too tired, gladly accepted new rulers