Jesus spends three years preaching, is killed by Roman leaders
Jesus' followers believe he is the Messiah and Savior who had risen from the dead
This religion conflicted with Roman beliefs
AD 313: Constantine has a battlefield conversion
He issues the Edict of Milan
Not only no persecution, but actual approval of Christianity, eventually making it the official religion of Rome
The Decline of the Roman Empire
AD 180: Rome has problems
Economic (trade became risky; taxes were too high, food supply was dropping)
Military (frontiers were hard to patrol; Roman Generals fought for control; soldiers' loyalty declined and mercenaries appeared)
Diocletian divided the empire into two
Greek-speaking East (had more resources)
Latin-speaking West (Rome, tradition)
AD 324 - Constantine becomes emperor over both halves of the empire
Moves the capital from Rome to Byzantium (renamed Constantinople), where Asia met Europe (now Turkey)
After his death, empire is divided again
This time, "Barbarian Invaders" (Huns, Vandals, Visigoths, Angles, Saxons, Franks) overrun the empires frontiers
That's it for the Roman Empire (476 AD)
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