Third-century crisis
Also called: Crisis of the third century · Topic: The Roman Empire · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "An Empire Across Three Continents"
Meaning
The third-century crisis was a time of severe strain for the Roman Empire, starting in the 230s. It came after two centuries of peace. Rome now had to fight on several fronts at once. In the east, the new Sasanian dynasty of Iran pushed towards the Euphrates. In the north, Germanic groups such as the Alamanni, Franks and Goths attacked the Rhine and Danube frontiers again and again between 233 and 280. Historians use this crisis as the dividing line between the "early empire" and the "late empire".
Example
Shapur I of Iran claimed to have destroyed a Roman army of 60,000 and captured Antioch. Rome gave up much land beyond the Danube. It had 25 emperors in 47 years and raised taxes to pay for the wars.