Today in western civilization, we started on another section that focused on Christianity within the Roman Empire.
- In the 3rd century
- Disease spreads throughout the empire.
- Too hard to defend the frontier against barbarians.
- Emperors lost their hold on power.
- Stayed in power on average of two and a half years.
- Expensive army maintenance.
- Too much poverty.
- 284 AD - Diocletian's reforms
- Increase the size of army to 400,000
- Divide Roman territories into smaller provinces.
- The new government had 20,000 officials.
- More efficient at collecting taxes.
- 300 AD
- 60 million people in Rome
- Several million more Christians
- Christianity has appealed to the poor.
- More Christians > more talks & more conversations > more children
- Christians gaining powerful positions, becoming ruling elites.
- Persecute
- Diocletian (284 - 305) left Christians alone at first.
- Then he undertook the most systematic persecution of all.
- Constantine ruled as emperor (306 - 337)
- The Diocletian Persection - Diocletian issued a series of edicts demanding that Christians comply with traditional Roman religious practices.
- Edicts targeted the clergy and demanded universal sacrifice.
- Constantine converted and was made a saint.
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