The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind Commodus to Constantine: The Peak and Decline of the Roman Empire
Mar 27, 2025
The late Roman Empire faced unprecedented instability as Commodus's erratic reign led to military pressures from external foes and economic hardships. Diocletian's reforms attempted to stabilize the economy, even as he split the empire and persecuted Christians to bolster unity. Meanwhile, Constantine's rise marked a pivotal shift: his conversion to Christianity, the Council of Nicaea, and founding of Constantinople set the stage for a new era. Yet, these reforms provided only a temporary reprieve before the inevitable decline.
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Commodus's Theatrical Madness
- Commodus famously renamed himself and performed as a gladiator, alarming Rome's elite and destabilizing the regime.
- His erratic rule culminated in conspiracies and his assassination by advisers.
Wealth Undermined Military Service
- Wealth and comfort reduced elite willingness to serve, creating officer shortages and lower military recruitment.
- Rome increasingly valued skill over aristocratic birth to fill command roles.
Soldiers Became Kingmakers
- Soldiers stationed far from Rome often became locally loyal and could proclaim their own emperors.
- This dynamic produced the era of 'soldier emperors' who ruled by force and pay.