Roman History -8

In 312 AD, Constantine, proclaimed ruler by Britain, defeated Maxentius to become the absolute ruler of Rome.
He was a very religious Christian and converted Rome into a Christian society. Constantine tried to counter alien attacks by creating more mobile forces, which could respond quickly, but lack of manpower made the idea unworkable.
Constantine's biggest contribution to Rome was the founding of the new capitol of Rome, Constantinople.
Constantine was baptized shortly before he died in 337 AD.
From 378 AD on the divided Rome was slowly killed by various attackers. In 363 AD, Persians captured Mesopotamia.
Goths ravaged Rome in 410. Vandals infiltrated Gaul and Spain. In 476 AD, Romulus Augustus was deposed and west Rome dies.
The great wealth of east Rome maintained the government and it lived until 1453 AD.

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Roman History -7

Rome was in constant Civil War in 68 AD, as the throne changed hands four times. In 70 AD, the emperor Titus captured Jerusalem. His brother Domitian followed him.
After the death of Nerva in 97, Trajan, Hadrian, the Antonine emperors, and the Severan emperors reigned in a time of peace and consolidation.
Many buildings and statues were built in Northern Africa during this time. The Colosseum and the Pantheon were also built in Rome during this period.
From 235 to 284 AD Rome was in disorder as Germans, Goths, and Persians attacked. Many military figures became emperors and were quickly deposed by others.
In 284 AD, Diocletian, traditional militaristic Roman, introduced reforms that bought Rome back to order.
He divided the Empire in half and appointed two rulers for both west and east Rome.
In 302 AD, Diocletian banned Christians from the Roman Army.
He brought religion into the office of emperor and made the position a "divine monarchy."

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Roman History -6

When Augustus died in 14 AD, Tiberius -Augustus' chosen heir- took the throne. He had little success in dealing with the Senate and he withdrew himself from office.
Tiberius' great-nephew Gaius Julius, or Caligula, was next to take the empire which Augustus had created.
Caligula was murdered in 41 AD, and the Praetorian Guard (emperor's bodyguards) forced the Senate to accept another emperor, Claudius.
Claudius did much to solidify the office of emperor and won victories in Britain in 43 AD.
Claudius' wife Agrippina likely poisoned him to get her son Nero into the throne. Once emperor, Nero had his mother killed, persecuted Christians, and possibly arranged the burning of Rome which occurred in 64 AD.
He built a great palace in the center of Rome's rubble with a giant stature of himself inside.
When Gaul and Spain revolted, Nero committed suicide ending the Augustus reign and Sulpicius Galba, governor of Spain, took office.

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Roman History -5

After conquering all, Rome found that its motivating purpose was now gone and suffered numerous internal difficulties.
The Gracchus brothers led a popular movement for land reform, but were put down by the Patricians.
Gaius Marius, a strong general, did much to transfer power to the Roman Army. Sulla and then Pompey succeeded Marius as dictators of Rome.
The famous Julius Caesar challenged Pompey and took control of Rome.
The Roman Republic came to an end in 44 BC when Caesar was assassinated.
Taking Julius Caesar's place was Mark Antony, Aemilius Lepidus, and Octavian Caesar; the famous triumvirate.
In 31 BC, the ambitious Octvian defeated Antony and became emperor of the Roman world.
Having unbelievable fame amongst the Romans, Octavian gave all his power to the Senate to create a "restored republic" knowing that the Senate would give his some central role in government.
The Senate did respond as Octavian had expected by offering the administration of many Roman provinces, including Spain, Egypt, and Gual.
This placed him in control of nearly all Rome's military strength and he was given the title Augustus. More powers soon followed making the first emperor of Rome a legend.

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