The Roman Empire after Constantine and the Christian Empire Flashcards
after Constantine
the 150 years after his rule can be seen as a transitional period for the empire.
conflicts
major wars between romans and Persians were fought between 336-364. in the second half of the 4th century, there were also the beginnings of massive german migrations.
east of the empire
an areas which was urbanized for way longer and more intensively. it had a long tradition of well-organized city states and kingdoms. rich area. elite language was greek. court in Constantinople, Antioch. Christianity held this part of the empire together quite well.
west of the empire
had a traditions of tribal communities. urbanized largely only when romans arrived and to a smaller extent. quite a poor area. elite language was latin. court in Milan or Ravenna.
relations between the east and the west
in the 4th and 5th centuries the two halves drifted more apart. after 337 the halves were governed by different emperors. the halves had separate administrations and distinct rulers. after 395 no sole emperor ruled over the entire empire but the idea of a single empire was still retained.
the armies were more reluctant to help each other in times of need as they too had drifted apart.
west went into decline and the emperors’ control with it while the east remained quite prosperous.
christianity
after 312-313 many people converted fro pragmatic reasons as it had become a majority religion with a hierarchical order.
people and life in the christian empire
commoners did not have to abide by the old strict rules. christian laymen were allowed to engage in warfare and participate in administration. church’s financial resources grew rapidly. everything was reduced to one. the west remained majorly pagan and the east had the old beliefs too but as a minority.
the end of roman empire in the west
between 406-413 foreign invasions, usurpations and civil wars took over the west.
