The Later Roman Empire • Horace, Ode i.11 • You should not inquire into fate, Leuconoe, for it is an impiety to know what the gods have decreed for me or for you. Pay no attention to the calculations of Babylonian astrologers; Is it not better, whatever may come, to simply accept whether Jove lets you live many more winters, or whether he decrees that this winter, in which the Tyrrenian sea wastes its strength against the rocky shore, is your last. Be sensible, flow with the wine, and since time is short, what use are long-term plans? While we talk precious time has passed: so embrace the day (carpe diem) with the least concern for tomorrow. The Roman Empire The Severan Dynasty • Pertinax (193) • Didius Julianus (193) • Septimius Severus (193 – 211) • Parthian War (198 - 202) • Invasion of Brittain (208) • Died at York. • Caracalla (211 – 217) • Murdered his brother Geta in 211 • Proscriptions • Alaman War (Germans) 212-13 • Parthian War (215-17) • Destruction of the Parthian kingdom • Elagabalus (218-222) • Promoted monotheism (sun worship) • Alexander Severus (222 – 235) • AD 226, Ardashir I king of Persia. • New Sassanid Dynasty • 230: Ardashir invades Mesopotamia • Severan Legacy: • Papinian, Ulpian and Paulus • Jurists, account for half of the Codex Justinianus Britannia Belgica Lugdunensis Germania Noricum Phaetia Aquitania Pannonia Dacia Italia Narbonensis Illyricum Moesia Tarraconensis Thrace Macedonia Bithynia Lusitania Armenia Cappadocia Baetica Asia Cilicia Sicily Galatia Achaea Syria Mauretania Palestine Africa Egypt The Roman Empire The Third Century Crisis The Soldier Emperors • The senate could not control an army directly • Provincial armies could not be controlled from Rome • Every provincial commander a potential emperor • Every army could create and destroy an emperor Picts Britannia Franks Belgica Alamanni Quadi Lugdunensis Germania Noricum Ostragoths Phaetia Visigoths Aquitania Pannonia Dacia Italia Narbonensis Illyricum Moesia Tarraconensis Thrace Macedonia Bithynia Lusitania Armenia Cappadocia Baetica Asia Cilicia Sicily Galatia Achaea Syria Mauretania Sassanians Palestine Africa Egypt • Maximinus (235 - 38) • Repulsed the Alamani, Sarmatians, Dacians • Anti-Christian • Pupienus and Clodius (238) • Gordianus (238 – 44) • Philip (244 – 49) • Decius (249 – 51) • Persecution of Christians • Many Bishops exiled or killed • Gallus (251 – 53) • Aemilianus (253) • Valerian (253 – 60) • 257 – Christianity banned • Arrest and execution of Christian leaders • 260 – Valerian captured by Shapur I • Gallienus (253 – 268) • Claudius (268 – 70) • Aurelian (270 – 75) • Tacitus (275 – 6) • Probus (276 – 82) The Parthian Empire (247BC – AD 224) Parthia Persian Satrapy By 53 BC The Sassanids • Ardashir I (226 - 42) • Ferdowsi, Shah – Nama (10th cent. AD) • Shapur I (242-72) • Invaded Syria and Asia Minor in 253 • Took Antioch in 260 (captured Valerian) • Hormizd I (272 - 73) • Vahram I (273 - 76) • Vahram II (276 – 93) • Peace with Rome in 283 The Sassanian Empire (AD 224 - 651) Diocletian (284 – 305) • Diocles: • Rose to command the Imperial Guard • Imperator in November 284 • 100 provinces; 12 Dioceses each with one Vicar • Maximian Caesar in 285 • Elevated to Augustus in 286 • Constantius and Galerius Caesars in 293 • Price Edict of 301 BC. The Tetrarchy • Diocletian Augustus: Nicomedia (Pontus) • Galerius Caesar: Thessalonica (Greece) • Maximian Augustus: Mediolanum (Italia) • Constantius Caesar: Trier (Galliae) • 1 May, AD 305: • Diocletian and Maximian abdicate. The Roman Empire The Christian Empire Constantine • Flavius Valerius Constantinus • Born 27 February, 271 AD in Moesia (Serbia) • Son of Constantius I (293-306) and Helena • Constantius died in 306 at York • Campaigning against the Picts • Battle of the Milvian Bridge:28 October, 312. • Constantine converts to Christianity The Arch of Constantine The Council of Nicea • The Arian Heresy: • Jesus, as the son, not eternal but subordinate to God the Father and the Holy Spirit • Arius excommunicated in 318 • Council of Nicea • Convened in Nicea in 325 • Nicene Creed: • Confirmed the triune God.