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July 5, 2024 570 0
The late Roman Empire, spanning roughly the 4th to 7th centuries, witnessed dramatic transformations. This era saw the rise of Christianity, economic booms, and political fragmentation, ultimately leading to the rise of Islam and the dawn of the Medieval world.
About Late antiquity
Diocletian’s Retrenchment and Constantine’s Transformations
Diocletian’s Strategic Reforms: Overexpansion had led Diocletian to ‘cut back’ by abandoning territories with little strategic or economic value.
Era of Ruling Elites: Ruling elites were wealthier and more powerful than ever before, as seen in Egypt where papyri reveal a relatively affluent society generating vast incomes in gold.
Polytheistic Pantheon: The classical world of Greece and Rome embraced polytheistic religious traditions with diverse cults worshipping Roman/Italian gods like Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and Mars, along with various Greek and eastern deities in temples and sanctuaries across the empire.
Contrasting Trajectories in the Post-Roman World: The East experienced general prosperity with a growing population until the sixth century, despite the plague in 540S CE.
Expansion of Islam: It is regarded as “the greatest political revolution in the history of the ancient world,” commenced around 642 CE, a decade after Prophet Muhammad’s death.
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RULERS | EVENTS | |
27 BCE-14 CE | 27 BCE | ‘Principate’ founded by Octavian, now calls himself Augustus |
Augustus, first Roman Emperor
14-37 |
c. 24-79 | Life of the Elder Pliny; dies in the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius,
which also buries the Roman town of Pompeii |
66-70 | The great Jewish revolt and capture of Jerusalem by Roman forces | |
Tiberius 98-117 | ||
Trajan 117-38
Hadrian |
c. 115 | Greatest extent of the Roman Empire, following Trajan’s conquests in the East |
193-211
Septimius Severus |
212 | All free inhabitants of the empire transformed into Roman citizens |
224 | New dynasty founded in Iran, called ‘Sasanians’ after ancestor Sasan | |
241-72
reign of Shapur I in Iran 253-68 Gallienus |
250s | Persians invade Roman territories west of the Euphrates |
258 | Cyprian bishop of Carthage executed | |
260s | Gallienus reorganises the army | |
273 | Caravan city of Palmyra destroyed by Romans | |
284-305 the ‘Tetrarchy’; Diocletian main ruler | 297 | Diocletian reorganises empire into 100 provinces |
312-37 Constantine
309-79 reign of Shapur II in Iran |
c. 310 | Constantine issues new gold coinage (the ‘solidus’) |
312 | Constantine converts to Christianity | |
324 | Constantine now sole ruler of empire; founds city of Constantinople | |
354-430 | Life of Augustine, bishop of Hippo | |
378 | Goths inflict crushing defeat on Roman armies at Adrianople | |
391 | Destruction of the Serapeum (temple of Serapis) at Alexandria | |
408-50 Theodosius II (compiler of the famous ‘Theodosian Code’) | 410 | Sack of Rome by the Visigoths |
428 | Vandals capture Africa | |
434-53 | Empire of Attila the Hun | |
490-518 Anastasius | 493 | Ostrogoths established kingdom in Italy |
527-65 Justinian
531-79 reign of Khusro I in Iran |
533-50 | Recovery of Africa and Italy by Justinian |
541-70 | Outbreaks of bubonic plague | |
568 | Lombards invade Italy | |
c. 570 | Birth of Muhammad | |
610-41 Heraclius | 614-19 | Persian ruler Khusro II invades and occupies eastern Roman territories |
622 | Muhammad and companions leave Mecca for Medina | |
633-42 | First and crucial phase of the Arab conquests; Muslim armies
take Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and parts of Iran |
|
661-750 | Umayyad dynasty in Syria | |
698 | Arabs capture Carthage | |
711 | Arab invasion of Spain |
The fall of the Roman Empire in the West paved the way for the emergence of new kingdoms. Meanwhile, the Eastern Roman Empire, later known as Byzantium, faced challenges from the Sasanians and the rise of Islam, altering the political landscape of the Near East.
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