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