Historical Essay Example about The Roman Empire (from c. CE 230 to 500)

The Roman world from c. CE 230 to 500 is a complex piece of history containing issues of travel and communications revealed by the transfer of power and tolerance of religion. Limes, or borders, of the Roman world and the Mediterranean Sea possess immense power over travel and communication given their geographical necessity to the movement of people carrying information, cultures, and ideology. Leaders, at times reluctantly, take power in times of war which leads to overbearing military power and new governmental structures. Power struggles and increased geographical connection spread religious ideology throughout the empire not only by public communication but eventually the mouth of the emperors themselves. Travel and communication from CE 230 to 500 altered geography, leadership, and religion creating a fascinating tapestry of history.

As the nucleus of the Roman world, the Mediterranean Sea moved more than armies; Ideology, culture, power, language, and religion traveled on the sea through the communications of various peoples. Boasting various terrains, the Roman Empire teemed with life. Nevertheless, limited modes of transportation achievable based on harsh terrain and established paths resulted in Maximinus’ death. Sixteen miles from Aquileia, a large river halted their advance for two or three days before engineers were able to fasten a bridge using hollow kegs connected by cables. Once across, they found deserted buildings, trees, grapevines, and numerous resources. With the intent to restrict their opponents, the army destroyed everything until they quite literally hit a wall. Aquileia’s wall-protected, prepared city hindered Maximinus’ army’s ability to pursue which consequently resulted in a mutiny. The ill-prepared army, unaware of the Aquileian’s preparations for a long period of opposition, found Aquileia uncapturable. Moreover, the senate, to limit Maximinus’ communication with Rome and the revolting provinces, prevented sailing. Having trapped themselves without resources on land and aid via the Mediterranean Sea, fleeing the city turned impossible. Maximinus’ army was no longer seizing the city, the army was under siege. Desperate for release, Maximinus’ once-loyal soldiers slew the insistent tyrant sending his head to Rome.1::::::::QUOTE::::::. (Herodian, page 29- 31) In short, the army of Maximinus’ fought the Aquilians, Maximinus’ tyrannical ways, and travel restrictions. Yet, the failed siege of Aquileia was one of many battles. Overall, Roman militaries were very successful in the infiltration and establishment of new territories due to their innovative engineering feats. Word spread slowly between military camps regarding the apprehension of territory. Lack of literacy amongst soldiers made information difficult to pass. So, communication of territorial gain shifted to educated, upper-class individuals in positions of power within the government or, later, the church. Whether these writers believed their work or portrayed their emperor’s military feats in good faith out of fear isn’t clear, regardless, their stories displayed Roman history. To those who could not read, other artifacts from the period, such as statues, buildings, carvings, and coinage, were forms of communication. Statues built in their image displayed power, influence, and successes. Buildings portrayed wealth as well as prosperity. Further, carvings in tombs idolized prized moments. Coinage tracked the progression of power and value of the economy. For example, the discovery of thousands of coins buried deep within Earth revealed turmoil and fear of citizens. 

Artifacts scattered across the empire and shores of the Mediterranean Sea reveal movements of Romans and communicate the degree of turmoil caused by the transfer of power within the Roman Empire from c. CE 230 to 500. One example is the overthrow of Severus Alexander and the consequential installment of Maximinus. Frustrated with defeats in the East by Persians and convinced Maximinus would be better suited, Severus’ soldiers plotted to kill their emperor. Preferring future risk over current risk, Maximinus accepted the purple imperial robe as he declared their first order: Kill Severus. Three years as emperor led Maximinus to a similar tyrannic rule intolerable by the people of Africa resulting in a revolt. Those who began the revolt by stabbing the greedy procurator of Africa needed support from their province, thus enlisted the governor, Gordian. Gordian, like Maximinus, accepted power despite protesting based on his eighty-plus age. Fear of immediate death versus foreordain demise led to his acceptance of purple, imperial power. Previously suppressed hatred of Maximinus, now released, led to the burning of statues, paintings, emblems of honor, etc. Even the Senate, before receiving accurate information, proclaimed Gordian Augustus as they began prodding other provinces to revolt against Maximinus.2 :::::::QUOTES::::::: (Herodian page 6, 7, 15, 17) Vague, complex communication amongst Roman people led to multiple, unintentional emperors. However, Diocletian, a later emperor, developed the idea of “tetrarchy” to separate powers amongst multiple rulers. During Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius’ rule, statues of the tetrarchy displayed unity, yet tense armed power. Similarly, coinage displayed equality. As these rulers perished during battles with their perceived co-emperor, coinage shifted once more to displaying a sole emperor. On his quest to sole emperor-ship, Constantine ended the lives of Augustuses and Caesars, but saved the lives of thousands of Christians, for those in power determined the fate of Christian souls.

News regarding horrible acts of Maxentius and Licinius toward Christians spurred Constantine into prayer and battle to release his people from the hands of tyrants across the empire as Moses had from the Pharaoh.3 ::::::Quote::::::(page 50) From ___ to ___, the tetrarchy of the Roman Empire consisted of Diocletian in the east as Augustus, Galerius in the east as Caesar, Maximian in the west as Augustus, and Constantius in the west as Caesar. In theory, the Augustuses reign over their respective territory with Caesars executing power subordinately in other regions. When an Augustus died, the region’s Caesar filled their position. Separation of power proved short-lived. Time proved the rulers’ inability to follow a non-hereditary rule.  By 312 tetrarchic power ended. First, Constantius appointed his son Constantine as Augustus. Months later Maximian’s western territory became his son Maxentius’. Following the defeat of fellow Galerius protege and co-emperor Maximinus, Licinius emerged as sole eastern Augustus. Each emperor eventually faced defeat by Constantine because of his faith in the Christian God. Credited to his prayers to Christ to be on his side, Constantine defeated Maxentius in Italy who trusted in magic arts. Liberated from tyrant emperor Maxentius, people rejoiced as Constantine gave honors to bishops, built churches, as well as aid the poor. Constantine’s God shed light on the western Roman world, but God’s light did not reach Licinius’ eastern domain. Licinius banished Christians, threatened them with death, and oftentimes confiscated their property. Eusebius’ The Life of Constantine emphasized the unspeakable actions taken by Licinius which stirred Constantine to protect Christians in the East. Thus Constantine prepared for war through prayer as his opposition gathered Egyptian diviners, sorcerers, and others whom he perceived as gods. Prayers answered, Constantine won sole rulership of the Roman Empire.4 :::::QUOTES::::: (Eusebius page 40-41, 59, 65, Travel and communication revealed the necessity of Christian faith to Constantine’s reign over the Roman Empire.

The Roman world from c. CE 230 to 500 is a complex piece of history containing issues of power transfer and religion which reveal limitations on travel along with altering degrees of communication. Travel and communication via Roman land and aquatic borders varied given imperial stability. Far stretching arms of Roman emperors led to overbearing, localized military power eventually, though temporarily, resolved by new governmental structures. Increased geographical connection spread religious ideology throughout the empire not only by public communication but eventually by emperors themselves. Altered geography, leadership, and religion in the Roman world reveal complex effects of travel and communication on the era.