In AD 330, Constantine the Great established Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire--transforming his empire, and the world. Constantine built a cultural and economic powerhouse, and a city associated with Christendom. It was a city that, depending on your perspective, helped usher in the end of the Roman Empire, or perhaps aided its preservation. Why did Constantine pick the site of Constantinople? How did he develop the city? How did Constantine's new Christian identity articulate itself in the new capital?

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In 325 AD, a gathering of bishops in a small town near Constantinople changed the course of Christianity and the Roman Empire forever. Known as the Council of Nicaea, this wasn’t just a theological debate—it was a collision of imperial power and religious authority. At its heart was Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, whose dream of a unified empire under one God reshaped church and state. But why did Constantine step into this religious fray? How did his decisions at Nicaea influence the future of Western civilization?

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Was Constantine's conversion to Christianity genuine? How did it reshape Roman politics and culture? Evidence from Lactantius and Eusebius suggests a sincere conversion, with a divine vision sparking his faith, though political pragmatism shaped its expression. His actions, like the Edict of Milan and church-building, wove Christianity into Roman identity, transforming the empire. Constantine’s legacy established Christianity as Rome’s cornerstone, hinting at a complex blend of faith and strategy that redefined Western history.

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The Third Century Crisis prompted Diocletian’s Tetrarchy in 293 AD--a bold four-ruler system to restore order. Then, in 303, Diocletian inaugurated the Great Persecution of Christians. Religion and politics intersected when Diocletian abdicated in 305, setting in motion a chain of events which prompted a succession crisis and empowered a new usurper, Constantine, to make a play for Rome. How did Constantine come to power and how did his rise intersect with the fall of the tetrarchy and sweeping religious changes in the Roman Empire?

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What happens when a society’s protectors turn on its elites? Why did the Roman military, with its fierce loyalty and unity, eclipse the wealthy senators of the Pax Romana? How did Rome’s own soldiers, alienated and rootless, turn into “barbarians” within? Peter Turchin's insights offer some useful food for thought.

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Diocletian’s Edict on Maximum Prices was a bold attempt to combat hyperinflation. It was sold with moralizing rhetoric--not unlike rhetoric in favor of anti-price-gouging laws or wage and price controls in modern states. Diocletian blamed greed instead of addressing currency issues. Did the Price Edict work?

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The Roman Empire under Diocletian saw sweeping changes that reshaped its core. Provinces were reorganized and multiplied to tighten administrative control. The bureaucracy swelled, with tens of thousands of officials managing the sprawling empire. Peasants were bound to the land they worked, securing a steady flow of taxes and labor. Meanwhile, the military's reach deepened, its influence seeping into daily life.

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Diocletian a low-born Illyrian, rose to emperor in a period of crisis. Instead of waiting for another civil war to erupt, he appointed Maximian to co-rule with him, and handle the problematic western empire. But as problems with invading armies and usurpers continued, Diocletian took the dramatic step of appointing additional emperors in AD 293, establishing the Tetrarchy ('Rule of Four Men'). This militarized system concentrated power in the hands of four absolute autocrats, sidelining the Senate and marking the shift from Principate to Dominate.

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Turmoil resumed following Emperor Aurelian’s assassination in AD 275. Rapidly changing emperors, barbarian invasions and internal strife defined the years 275-284. Within this chaos, Diocles, a low-born Dalmatian soldier, seized power in 284. But instead of joining the long list of warlords that only temporarily won power before falling in civil war, he laid a new foundation for a transformative era in Roman politics.

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Students often ask me for Roman Empire book recommendations. Listeners have as well. It is easy to find popular histories, but here I discuss eleven excellent hidden gems--books that are great for the causal reader, but robust enough that I’ve used them in my research and teaching. These aren’t popular titles, but they’re brilliantly crafted by leading academics, diving deep into Rome’s history, culture, religion and economy. Each book is well-written, accessible, and budget-friendly, perfect for history fans and students eager to explore Rome’s epic story.

Book List:

Rome: An Empire’s Story by Greg Woolf

The Fall of the Roman Empire by Peter Heather

Marcus Aurelius by Antony Birley

World Full of Gods by Keith Hopkins

The Rise of Christianity: A Sociologist Reconsiders History by Rodney Stark

Perpetua’s Journey: Faith, Gender, and Power in the Roman Empire by Jennifer A. Rea and Liz Clarke

From Caesar to Augustus: Using Coins as Sources by Clare Rowan

Hypatia: The Life and Legend of an Ancient Philosopher by Edward Watts

The Roman Empire: Roots of Imperialism by Neville Morley

The Roman Market Economy by Peter Temin

The Roman Empire: Economy, Society and Culture by Peter Garnsey and Richard Saller

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