Constantine's Conversion to Christianity - The Pax Romana Podcast 84
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.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
--------
23:30
--------
23:30
The Fall of the Tetrarchy and the Rise of Constantine - The Pax Romana Podcast 83
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?Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
--------
19:37
--------
19:37
Why the Military Replaced Rome's Elites - The Pax Romana Podcast 82
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.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
--------
16:58
--------
16:58
Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices - The Pax Romana Podcast 81
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?Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
--------
21:41
--------
21:41
The Militarization of the Roman Empire - The Pax Romana Podcast 80
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.Donate: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/WZTWCMWCJJYFCYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfCPEBuy Professor Elliott's newest book:Pox Romana: The Plague that Shook the Roman World.
The assassination of Julius Caesar 2,000 years ago unleashed a wild era of Roman emperors, dark conspiracies, intense battles, economic booms and busts and profound religious shifts. Was this truly the Roman Empire's golden age? On the weekly Pax Romana Podcast, Historian Colin Elliott brings gripping stories from Roman history to life. Dive into history starting in episode 1 , or pick your poison from our catalogue: the birth of the empire in the Age of Augustus, Nero's Great Fire, the rise of Christianity, the wisdom and wars of Marcus Aurelius or the military chaos of the third century AD.
New Zealand