Empires Test - 3

Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century CE, largely due to the conversion of Emperor Constantine and his support for the Christian religion.

In Roman urban life, the entertainment shows called "spectacula" were a significant part of public entertainment. These spectacula included events such as gladiatorial combats, chariot races, animal hunts, and theatrical performances. They were held at venues like the Colosseum and Circus Maximus. Historically, these spectacula could occur for as many as 176 days in a year, providing a frequent source of entertainment for the Roman populace.

Herod’s kingdom yielded the equivalent of 5.4 million denarii per year, equal to over 125,000 kg of gold! The denarius was a Roman silver coin containing about 4½ gm of pure silver.)

Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th century CE. Emperor Constantine the Great, who ruled from 306 to 337 CE, played a pivotal role in this transition. In 313 CE, he issued the Edict of Milan, which proclaimed religious tolerance throughout the empire and legalized Christianity. 

Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BCE, became one of the most important cities in the ancient world primarily due to its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. It served as a major center for trade and commerce, facilitating the exchange of goods between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its port was bustling with ships carrying various commodities such as grain, spices, textiles, and precious metals.

In 286 CE, Emperor Diocletian decided to divide Rome into two sections to try and stabilize the empire. For a hundred years Rome experienced even more divisions until the empire was finally divided in 395 CE and became the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire. This division changed Roman life and government forever.

Amphorae were a type of container. These containers were commonly used in ancient Greece and Rome for the storage and transportation of various goods, particularly liquids such as wine, olive oil, and other commodities. 

The Huns were a confederation of Eurasian tribes from the Steppes of Central Asia. Appearing from beyond the Volga River some years after the middle of the 4th century, they conquered all of eastern Europe, ending up at the border of the Roman Empire in the south, and advancing far into modern day Germany in the north.

Constantine made Christianity a legal religion. He used his power to address the status of Christians, issuing the Edict of Milan in 313 CE. This proclamation legalized Christianity and allowed for freedom of worship throughout the empire.

The Roman Empire emerged across three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it one of the most expansive and influential empires in the ancient world. At its peak, the Roman Empire controlled vast territories, including most of Western Europe, parts of Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and the Middle East. Its dominance in these regions significantly impacted politics, culture, trade, and society across the ancient world.