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As a means of recording the passage of time, the '4th century' (per the Julian/Gregorian calendar and Anno Domini era) was that century which lasted from 301 to 400.

Contents

Overview

Events

Significant people

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

References

Decades and Years

Overview

In the West, the early part of the century is shaped by Constantine I, who became the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. Gaining sole reign of the empire, he is also noted for re-establishing a single imperial capital, choosing the site of ancient Byzantium in 330 (over of the current capitals, which had effectively been changed by Diocletian's reforms to Milan in the West, and Nicomedia in the East) to build the city soon called Nova Roma (New Rome); it was later renamed Constantinople in his honor.
Constantine is also the last emperor to control both the eastern and western halves of the empire. As the century progresses after his death it becomes increasingly apparent that the empire has changed in many ways since the time of Augustus. The two emperor system originally established by Diocletian in the previous century falls into regular practice, and the east continues to grow in importance as a centre of trade and imperial power, while Rome itself diminishes greatly in importance due to its location far from potential trouble spots, like central europe and the east. Late in the century Christianity becomes the official state religion, and the empire's old pagan culture begins to disappear. General Prosperity is felt throughout this period, but security problems plague the empire from AD 376 onward — recurring invasions by Germanic tribes. These early invasions mark the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire.

Events

★ 301: Armenia first to adopt Christianity as state religion

★ 306–337: Constantine I, ends persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire, calls First Council of Nicaea, see also Constantinian shift, Constantinople becomes new seat of government (New Rome)

★ 350: About this time the Huns begin to invade the Sassanid Empire. ^[1]

★ 376: Visigoths appear on the Danube and are allowed entry into the Roman Empire in their flight from the Huns.

★ 378: Battle of Adrianople. Roman army is defeated by Visigoth cavalry. Emperor Valens is killed.

★ 378–395: Theodosius I, Roman emperor, bans pagan worship, Christianity is made the official religion of the Empire.

★ 383: Battle of Fei River in China

Significant people

★ Arius, founder of Arianism

★ Athanasius, opponent of Arius

★ Saint Augustine of Hippo, theologian

★ Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan

★ Basil of Caesarea, reformer of Christian monasticism

★ Julian the Apostate

★ Eusebius, famous Christian Church historian

★ Frumentius, Apostle of Ethiopia

★ Ge Hong, Chinese alchemist

★ Gu Kaizhi, Chinese painter

★ Ammianus Marcellinus, Roman Historian

★ Saint Martin of Tours

★ Pachomius, founder of Christian monasticism

★ Ulfilas, apostle of the Goths

★ Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, King of ancient Korean state Goguryeo who greatly expanded its territory

★ Tao Qian, Chinese poet

Inventions, discoveries, introductions

★ Kama Sutra

★ Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Vaticanus, earliest Christian bibles

★ Book of Steps, Syriac religious discourses

References

1. Roberts, J: "History of the World.". Penguin, 1994.

Decades and Years