4th century

4th century

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini/Common era) was that century which lasted from 301 to 400.

Overview

In the West, the early part of the century was shaped by Constantine I, who became the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Gaining sole reign of the empire, he is also noted for re-establishing a single imperial capital, choosing the site of ancient Byzantium in 330 (over of the current capitals, which had effectively been changed by Diocletian's reforms to Milan in the West, and Nicomedia in the East) to build the city soon called Nova Roma (New Rome); it was later renamed Constantinople in his honor.

The last emperor to control both the eastern and western halves of the empire was Theodosius I. As the century progressed after his death it became increasingly apparent that the empire had changed in many ways since the time of Augustus. The two emperor system originally established by Diocletian in the previous century fell into regular practice, and the east continued to grow in importance as a centre of trade and imperial power, while Rome itself diminished greatly in importance due to its location far from potential trouble spots, like Central Europe and the East. Late in the century Christianity became the official state religion, and the empire's old pagan culture began to disappear. General Prosperity was felt throughout this period, but recurring invasions by Germanic tribes plagued the empire from AD 376 onward. These early invasions marked the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire.

According to archaeologists, sufficient archaeological correlates of state-level societies coalesced in the 4th century to show the existence of the Three Kingdoms (AD 300/400-668) of Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla.

Events

* 301: Armenia first to adopt Christianity as state religion, followed by Ethiopia, circa 320
* 306–337: Constantine I, ends persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, calls First Council of Nicaea, see also Constantinian shift, Constantinople becomes new seat of government (New Rome)
* 350: About this time the Huns begin to invade the Sassanid Empire. [Roberts, J: "History of the World.". Penguin, 1994.]
* 376: Visigoths appear on the Danube and are allowed entry into the Roman Empire in their flight from the Huns.
* 378: Battle of Adrianople. Roman army is defeated by Visigoth cavalry. Emperor Valens is killed.
* 378–395: Theodosius I, Roman emperor, bans pagan worship, Christianity is made the official religion of the Empire.
* 383: Battle of Fei River in China

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

* The Stirrup was invented in China, no later than 322 [ [http://www.silk-road.com/artl/stirrup.shtml The stirrup and its effect on chinese military history] ] [ [http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-07/21/content_70825.htm The invention and influences of stirrup] ]
* Kama Sutra
* Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, earliest Christian bibles
* Book of Steps, Syriac religious discourses

References

Greek Fire

External links

* [http://www.fourthcentury.com/ Fourth-Century Christianity Website]

Decades and years


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 4th century AH — is a century in the Islamic calendar that corresponds to 912 ndash; 1009 CE.yearbox width = 500 in?= cp=3rd century AH c=4th century AH cf=5th century AH| yp1=297 AH yp2=298 AH yp3=299 AH year=300 AH ya1=301 AH ya2=302 AH ya3=303 AH dp3=270s AH… …   Wikipedia

  • 4th century BC — The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. It is considered part of the Classical era, epoch, or historical period.OverviewThis century marked the height of Classical Greek civilization in all of its… …   Wikipedia

  • 4th century in architecture — See also: 3rd century in architecture, other events of the 4th century, 5th century in architecture and the architecture timeline.Events* 313 Emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan, legislating toleration of Christian worship in the Roman… …   Wikipedia

  • 4th century in poetry — centuryinbox in?=in poetry cpa=3 cpb=rd century c=4th century cn1=5th centuryRoman empirePoets* Ephrem the Syrian (306 373), Nisibis, writing in Syriac * Ausonius (310 395), Bordeaux * Himerius (315 386), from Bithynia writing in Greek *… …   Wikipedia

  • 4th century BC in poetry — Bccenturyinbox in?=in poetry cpa= cpb=5th century BC c=4th century BC cn1=3rd century BC =The Hellenistic World= Poets (by date of birth)* Aratus of Soli (c. 315/310 240 BCE), Macedonia, in Greek * Theocritus (c. 310 c. 250 BCE), in Greek *… …   Wikipedia

  • 4th century in Roman Britain — Events from the 4th century in Roman Britain.Events* 301 ** Emperor Diocletian fixes the prices of British woollen goods and beer. * 306 ** 25 July Emperor Constantius Chlorus dies at York, after campaigning against the Picts. * 314 ** The… …   Wikipedia

  • Christianity in the 4th century — See also: Christianity in the 3rd century and Christianity in the 5th century Christianity in the 4th century was dominated by Constantine the Great, and the First Council of Nicea of 325, which was the beginning of the period of the First… …   Wikipedia

  • Chronological list of saints in the 4th century — A list of 4th century saints: Name Birth Birthplace Death Place of death Notes Gatian     301   Bishop of Tours Vitalis and Agricola     301   Zoilus and 19 Companions   …   Wikipedia

  • Gorgopas (4th century BC) — For other people of the same name, see Gorgopas. Gorgopas was a Spartan commander during the Corinthian War. In 388 BC Hierax was dispatched by Sparta to Aegina to take over the Spartan fleet. The Spartans under the command of Teleutias had… …   Wikipedia

  • St. Eucherius (4th Century) —     St. Eucherius     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► St. Eucherius     Bishop of Lyons, theologian, born in the latter half of the fourth century; died about 449. On the death of his wife he withdrew to the monastery of Lérins, where his sons,… …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”