Powerpoint cont.

Today in class we were still going over Christianity and we were looking at the power point and taking notes. Here are some of the notes I took:

• 99 problems (here's just a few)
• In the third century, epidemic disease spreads throughout the Empire.
• It's too hard to defend the frontier against the barbarians. 
• Emperors began to lose their hold or power. 
• Stayed in power for an overage of two and a half years, due to wars or assassinations.
• Maintaining armies is becoming more expensive.
• Still a lot of people in the city that are poverty-stricken and can't afford a anything anymore. 
• Emperors had a hard time keeping themselves alive and in power.
• Average length of rule was usually 2 years. That was till someone killed you either in battle or by people who didn't like your way of ruling.
• 284 AD- Diocletian's reforms
• Increase the size of the army to 400,000
• 1/3 bigger than during Augustus' time
• Recruit from the ranks of the barbarians.
• Divide Roman territories into smaller Providences.
• This new government has 20,000 officials- ten times more than under Augustus
• There were more efficient at collecting higher taxes- this greater yield provided for a larger army.
• Rome was based on a polytheism type of government.
• They were excepted to do duties for Jupiter, where if you were Christians you didn't have to.
• Diocletian (ruled from 284-305) left Christians alone at first.
• The he undertook the most systematic persecution of all*
• Constantine ruled as emperor 306-337
• What was his connection with Christianity?*
• and how did he restructure the empire?*