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Eastern and Western Roman Empires

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Terms in this set (5)

What was the glory of the Roman Empire? When did the history of Ancient Rome start?

It was known as the Pax and lasted from about 27BC - 180 AD. To 500 BCE.

A strong-willed army leader who became the emperor of Rome in 284 AD. He believed that the empire had grown too large for one leader so divided the empire into the Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West. He appointed a co-ruler for the west and took charge of the east.

What was the East like?

The East included most of the Empire's great cities and trade centers and was a lot wealthier than the West.

What happened after Diocletian's death?

Civil war broke out, and Constantine became the ruler of the East and West. He moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city of Byzantium which stood on the Bosporus Strait, giving it trade and defense because it was on the crossroads between the East and West. The city was now called Constantinople.

What happened after Constantine's death?

The empire divided again. The East became known as the Byzantine Empire, while the West fell and plunged Europe into a time of instability and decline for many hundred years.