Constantine
Also called: Constantine I · Topic: The Roman Empire · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "An Empire Across Three Continents"; Class 11, Ch 5 "Changing Cultural Traditions"
Meaning
Constantine (ruled 306–337 CE) was a Roman emperor of late antiquity, the last stage of the empire, from the fourth to the seventh century. He made Christianity the empire's official religion. He brought in a new gold coin. He also built a second capital in the East. His reforms shaped the late empire and later Byzantine history.
Example
Constantine became a Christian in 312. He introduced the gold solidus c. 310, after the Spanish silver mines were worn out. In 324 he founded Constantinople on the site of Byzantium and gave it its own senate.
Don't confuse with
- Diocletian (284–305): the earlier emperor who reorganised the provinces and separated civil from military duties. Constantine is linked with Christianity, the solidus and Constantinople.
Related concepts
- Diocletian
- Edict of Milan 313
- Christianisation of the Roman Empire
- Constantinople
- Post-Roman kingdoms
- Byzantine empire
- Justinian
- Late antiquity
- Prophet Muhammad
- Hijra