1. FROM CHAOS TO RECONSTRUCTION TRYING TO REVIVE THE EMPIRE 284-337 AD

2. FROM UPHEAVAL TO STABILITY POST 5 GOOD EMPERORS RULERS ABLE BUT AMBITIOUS MILITARY RULERS & LAW YIELDED TO THE SWORD WHAT KEPT EMPIRE INTACT WAS INSTITUTIONS: CIVIL SERVICE, PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, ARMY 20 EMPERORS IN 49 YEARS – LACK OF CONTINUITY AT TIMES PARTS OF EMPIRE DOMINATED BY GENERALS AGE OF BARRACKS EMPERORS – ALL MILITARY FREE FOR ALL FOR BARBARIAN INVASIONS RISE OF DIOCLETIAN BRINGS SEMBLANCE OF ORDER 284

3. DIOCLETIAN 284-305 & HIS PALACE AT NICOMEDIA

4. FROM PRINCEPS TO DOMINUS ENDS LONG PERIOD OF STRIFE RECONSTRUCTS EMPIRE RESTORED ROME TO PEACE & SECURITY ABSOLUTE AUTOCRAT EASTERN MONARCH THE ELECT OF GOD DIVINE FAVOR INFLUENCE OF EAST & ALL THE IMPERIAL TRAPPINGS OF COURT

5. GETTING A HANDLE ON THE EMPIRE TOO LARGE FOR ONE MAN – SPLIT IN 1/2 WESTERN & EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE DIOCLETION EAST – AUGUSTUS WEST 2 ADMINISTRATORS – CAESARS TETRARCHY – RULE OF 4 BUT DIOCLETIAN CLEARLY SENIOR DIVISION OF EAST & WEST STILL FURTHER INTO SMALL DIOCESES & FURTHER INTO SMALLER PROVINCES UNITY OF TETRARCHS WITH HANDS ON SHOULDERS BUT OTHER HAND ON THE SWORD CORNER OF ST. MARKS CATHEDRAL VENICE

6. REPAIRING THE ECONOMY CURB INFLATION- FIXED MAX. PRICES & WAGES – 1 ST TIME EVER PAYMENT OF TAXES IN GOODS & STRESS ON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DECLINE OF CITIES, TRADE, COMMERCE MINES EXHAUSTED, MERCHANTS LEFT RUINED AREAS & BROUGHT THEIR SKILLS & COMMERCE W/ THEM COUNTRYSIDE CANT FEED CITY PEOPLE LOCKED INTO JOBS

7. THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE 306-337 AD

8. RESTORATION OF THE EMPIRE SPLIT BETWEEN EAST AND WESTERN EMPIRES PERMANENT SON OF 1 TETRARCH – SUCCESSION NOT PEACEFUL VICTORY AT MILVIAN BRIDGE 312 GAVE HIM CONTROL OF WEST EDICT OF MILAN 313 MADE CHRISTIANITY LEGAL IN EMPIRE, CONVERTS ON HIS DEATH BED

9. ARCH OF CONSTANTINE - GIFT FROM SENATE COMMEMORATES VICTORY OVER MAXENTIUS IN 312 SCENES FROM VICTORIES OF M. AURELIUS & TRAJAN PIECES TAKEN FROM A MONUMENT TO HADRIAN

10. A NEW CAPITAL - BYZANTIUM EASILY DEFENDED GEOGRAPHICALLY STRATEGIC FREE FROM ROMAN TRADITIONS DEDICATED 330 AD BYZANTIUM RENAMED CONSTANTINOPLE AT HIS DEATH NEW ERA UNTIL 1453