Historical Events and Figures:
– Diocletian’s division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western portions.
– Constantine the Great’s legalization of Christianity in the 4th century.
– The collapse of the Western Roman Empire by 476 due to barbarian invasions.
– Justinian the Great’s reconquest campaigns in the West.
– The emergence of Islam in the 7th century leading to significant territorial changes.
Religion and Religious Shifts:
– Rise of Abrahamic religions like Christianity, Rabbinic Judaism, and Islam.
– Constantine the Great’s conversion marking a milestone for Christianity.
– Christianization of the Roman Empire by rulers like Tiridates the Great and Mirian III.
– Proclamation of Nicene Christianity as the state church in the 4th century.
– Spread of Islam marking the end of late antiquity.
Architecture, Culture, and Society:
– Fusion of Greco-Roman, Germanic, and Christian traditions shaping European culture.
– Construction of the Hagia Sophia by Justinian the Great showcasing Byzantine architecture.
– Impact of extreme climate events and pandemics in the 6th century.
– Transition in political and social basis of life in late antiquity.
– Cities becoming centers of political, social life, trade, and administration.
Political and Military Transformations:
– Disruptions from Germanic, Hunnic, and Slavic migrations in the late 4th century.
– Sack of Rome by Visigoths and Vandals contributing to the Western Empire’s collapse.
– Byzantine-Sasanian wars continuing in the 6th century.
– Emergence of Islam leading to territorial changes in the Eastern Roman Empire.
– Transformation of political structures and social classes in late antiquity.
Urban Development and Decline:
– Population decline and economic shift in late antiquity.
– Urban continuity and discontinuity in various regions.
– Impact of collapse on urban life, including decline, destruction, and survival.
– Public buildings funded by emperors and elites, focusing on preserving wealth.
– Shift in artistic styles towards mosaics, relief sculpture, and manuscript illumination.
Late antiquity is sometimes defined as spanning from the end of classical antiquity to the local start of the Middle Ages, from around the late 3rd century up to the 7th or 8th century in Europe and adjacent areas bordering the Mediterranean Basin depending on location. The popularisation of this periodization in English has generally been credited to historian Peter Brown, who proposed a period between 150–750 AD. The Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity defines it as "the period between approximately 250 and 750 AD". Precise boundaries for the period are a continuing matter of debate. In the West, its end was earlier, with the start of the Early Middle Ages typically placed in the 6th century, or even earlier on the edges of the Western Roman Empire.[citation needed]
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
