The Evolution of the Roman Empire from the 3rd to 4th Century

The Roman Empire underwent significant changes from the 2nd to the 3rd century, leading to the emergence of a larger and more forceful bureaucracy to address the thriving economy and increased military threats. Despite administrative reforms by Diocletian improving stability, the 4th century still saw challenges with imperial legitimacy, resulting in numerous civil wars and usurpers. This continuous struggle suggests that the empire never completely recovered from the crisis of imperial legitimacy that arose in the 3rd century.