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Period: 31 BCE to 1453
The Roman Empire
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31
Augustus Emperor of Rome
Augustus becomes the sole ruler of Rome in 31 B.C.E. and begins the time frame we call the Roman Empire. The difference in government is why the Roman Republic is separated from the Roman Empire. -
64
Nero and The Great Fire of Rome
Nero is the last emperor the Julio-Claudian Dynasty. He blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome and would begin the Christian Persecutions. -
235
The Crisis of the 3rd Century
This era is heavily remembered for the turmoil and political instability lived in the Roman Empire. Instability was showcased from 235 C.E. to 285 C.E. when 50 different emperors ruled the empire. -
285
Diocletian Divides the Empire
Diocletian attempts to address the instability of the 3rd century crisis by separating the territory of the Roman Empire into two different sections: West and East. -
312
Christian Persecution Ends in Rome
Emperor Constantine ends the Christian Persecution begun by Emperor Nero. Constantine is the first emperor in Roman history to convert to Christianity. -
330
Constantinople (The New Capitol of Roman Empire)
Emperor Constantine decides to move the capital of Rome east and renames the city of Byzantium to Constantinople. Even though the East was more prominent than the west by this point, this turning event made it official in which the focal point of Roman Empire was stationed in the East. -
476
The Fall of the Roman Empire (West)
After a series of attacks by the Visigoths and Attila the Hun and other factors the Roman Empire in the West was conquered. In 476 C.E. the Western Roman Emperor gives up the throne and is often seen as the end of the Roman Empire in the West. -
1054
The Great Schism of 1054
the breakup of the Christian church into two sections—the Western and the Eastern sections The separation of the Christian Church. The West turned into the Roman Catholic Church and the east was referred as the Eastern Orthodox Church. -
1054
Primary Source: Michael Kerularios
Primary Source: Michael Kerularios: Letter to Patriarch Peter of Antioch (concerning Schism of 1054) https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/1054michael-kerularious-to-peter-of-antioch1.asp -
1204
The Sacking of Constantinople In the 4th Crusade
The Sacking of Constantinople is often seen as the beginning of the downfall of the Eastern Roman Empire. During the 4th Crusade, Christians were on their way to reconquer Jerusalem when they stopped at Constantinople and along with Venetians decided to sack Constantinople. -
1204
Primary Source: Crusader on the Sacking of Constantinople
Primary Source: Crusader on the Sacking of Constantinople https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/clari1.asp -
1453
The Fall of Constantinople
1453 is the date in which Seljuk Turks sacked and conquered Constantinople. It would mark the end of the East Roman Empire. Following the events the city would be renamed as Istanbul. -
1453
Primary Source: Muslim Perspective on Christian Interactions
Primary Source: Muslim perspective on Christian Interaction http://web.archive.org/web/20010410021343/http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/reader/13thcpiety.htm