Social Sciences and History / Unit 5 SSH 0423 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Constantine's Shift and the Western Fragments
Captions available
The idea
Constantine founded Constantinople and embraced Christianity, and Christian emperors managed doctrine through ecumenical councils. The shift eastward cost the west, where Germanic foederati were allies and enemies until, by the fifth century, the west fragmented into their kingdoms.
In practice
Diocletian's tetrarchy: two senior, two junior emperors.
Where people slip
Late Antiquity, about one fifty to seven fifty, is the anchor's period.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it