Home Artists Posts Import Register

Content

Recommended Reading/Watching

Emperors of Rome by Professor Garrett G. Fagan, Ph.D. 

History of Ancient Rome by  Professor Garrett G. Fagan, Ph.D.  

Rome's Enemies (5) by David Nicolle & Angus McBride 

The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine by Michael Simkins & Ronald Embleton 

The Early Middle Ages by Yale Courses 

The History of Rome Podcast by Mike Duncan 

Files

Third Century Crisis - Lies - Extra History

Welcome Extra Historians to Lies, where we talk about the mistakes we made and the details we couldn't quite squeeze into the episode proper. We Franced some Germanies, slighted Ceasar, and are here to provide you with all the emperor names from the first episode and more. If you want to check out our recommended reading, you can find it on our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/exploring-lies-41752226?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copy_to_clipboard&utm_campaign=postshare Timestamps! 0:00 - Recommended Reading/General Questions 6:55 - Episode 1 9:07 - Episode 2 12:45 - Episode 3 14:06 - Episode 4 16:18 - Episode 5 19:25 - Coming Up Next 21:06 - Ibn Battuta Side Trip! Join us on Patreon! http://bit.ly/EHPatreon Check out all our shows at http://extracredits.site Follow us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/ECisonInstagram Grab your Extra Credits gear at the store! http://bit.ly/ExtraStore Subscribe for new episodes every Saturday! http://bit.ly/SubToEC Thanks for participating in this week's discussion! We want you to be aware of our community posting guidelines so that we can have high-quality conversations: https://www.extracredits.site/extra-credits-community-code-of-con Contribute community subtitles to Extra History: https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/6054623?hl=en Talk to us on Twitter (@ExtraCreditz): http://bit.ly/ECTweet Follow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/ECFBPage Watch us play games and have fun on http://bit.ly/ECtwitch ____________ ♪ Get the intro music here! http://bit.ly/1EQA5N7 *Music by Demetori: http://bit.ly/1AaJG4H ♪ Outro music: "" by Tiffany Roman http://www.tiffanyromanlouk.com

Comments

Foxdoc

Indeed, those crafty Romans were well known for their Pacific explorations 😃

Anonymous

I'm going to point out you made a spelling error in regard to the junior emperor's title: you put "Ceasar," when the correct spelling is "Caesar."

Anonymous

173 In the Roman Empire, while Touring the Eastern Provinces, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius gives a Speech on Philosophy in the City of Athens before a large Crowd, among whom is a Young Boy Aged no more than 8 Years. Afterwards, the Boy Follows Aurelius Home and starts Asking him some Naively Honest Questions about his Speech that Day. Aurelius Learns that the Boy is an Orphan and, Due to the Emperor’s Propensity for helping the Poor and the Young, Adopts the Precocious Young Gaius Corellus Sulla before Returning to the Danubian Frontier. 178 In the Roman Empire, Commodus, the Eldest Son of Caesar Marcus Aurelius, Mysteriously Shows up Dead at his Home in Laurentum, Latium. Here History will lose Sight of Events: both Sulla and Marcus Aurelius will put Commodus’s Death down to Plague, but Future Historians will Suspect that Future Wife, Polonia, at this Point just a lowly Servant in the Household but a Close Companion of , had Caught Wind of a Nefarious Plot by Commodus to Remove his only Competitor for the Throne and had used Poison to get rid of the Threat. If Sulla or Marcus Aurelius Know anything about the Plot, then they stay Silent. 180 17th March In the Roman Empire, Caesar Marcus Aurelius Passes away at the Age of 58 in the City of Sirmium, Province of Pannonia Inferior, from Smallpox. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as the Model Ruler, Unmatched by most Men in his Wisdom, Justice and self ~ Control. His Example will be used to Motivate and to Justify a Great many Civic Reforms as Future Rulers of Rome Seek Comparison with him and a Revival of his Wise Leadership. 6th July In the Roman Empire, the Adopted Son of Marcus Aurelius, Gaius Aurelius Sulla, is Crowned as Caesar of Rome after an Appropriate Period of Mourning. On the Day of Sulla’s Coronation, the Sky over Rome ~ and most of the World ~ turns an Eerie Red hue. The Natural Cause of this Phenomenon is the Eruption of Volcanic Vents underneath a Lake on the other side of the World ~ the largest Geological Event for Centuries ~ but its Interpretation as a Bloody Omen from the Gods is all that can be Known in this Time and Place. In the Roman Empire, the Roman Senators do not Expect much from Sulla ~ he is a 16 ~ Year ~ old Boy who hasn’t even Grown a Beard yet ~ Operating under the Supervision of Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, a General who has Returned from the Frontier to Act as Regent for the Boy ~ Emperor, and some are still Asking Questions about the True Circumstances behind the Death of Princeps Commodus. Foul Play has been Suggested, and a few of Sulla’s Bolder Critics have even Dared to Suggest that Sulla had had Commodus Poisoned. The Declaration of a bad Omen is more of an Effect, rather than the Cause of, the Weak Support for Sulla in the Senate, but even these Negative Opinions of him will slowly soften in the Face of Sulla’s Piety in Observing the State Rituals, Constantia in Sacrificing his Own Convenience for the War, and his Personal Gravitas in Speaking before the Senate. Still, Clear Public Support from outside the Senate is needed before these Qualities can sway his more Ardent Senatorial Opponents. 198 In the Roman Empire, Caesar Sulla I Personally Leads Three Legions across the Border and into Caledonia without Local Knowledge. He Selects Villages not far from the North Side of Hadrian’s Wall to be Surrounded and their Entire Populations Slaughtered. 228 1st January In the Roman Empire, while Addressing the Senate of Rome, Caesar Sulla “the Great” Collapses mid Speech. Doctors are Summoned but, Alas, the Stroke he seems to have Suffered, Despite his Apparent good Health, is Incurable, beyond the Knowledge of even Rome’s best Doctors. He will be Remembered by both Future Historians and by his Contemporaries as Rome’s finest Caesar, who Guided Rome from a Kingdom of Silver to One of Gold, in the Words of the later Romano-Greek Historian and Statesman Cassius Dio. His Statue will stand, alongside those of other Roman Caesars along the Via Augusta in the Centre of the City of Rome, as well as the Colossus of Sulla, itself Modelled after the Colossus of Rhodes. His Brutal Conquest of Caledonia, as well as his almost One ~ sided Counter ~ Attack against Parthia, will Earn him a Reputation as One of Rome’s most Famous and Skilled Generals, a Place he will share with Illustrious Names like Julius Caesar, Scipio Africanus, Germanicus, Cruuxius Tiberius Carico, and, in later Centuries, Romulus Augustus and Constantine the Great. In the Roman Empire, there is none of the Political Pomp to Mark the Transition from Dual Emperors to a Sole Ruler apart from Naming Marcian as the new Pontifex Maximius and Holding a State Funeral for Sulla. The Non ~ Event that is Marcian’s Coronation, Combined with Sulla’s Earlier Reforms of both the Army and the Praetorian Guard, Sidesteps the need for any Donativum, which a new Emperor would usually Hand out to the Guard upon his Ascension to the Throne. Marcian takes Steps to Affirm his Ability to Govern without Sulla. In his First Act as Emperor, he Revalues the Silver Denarius, Increasing the Silver Purity from 83% to 88%, up to 96 a Pound, and Issues an Edict Sanctioning different Legal Treatment of the Honourable Orders and the Peasants, Exempting the Former from Harsher Punishments while Allowing the Latter to more Easily Appeal to the Emperor. 243 In the Roman Empire, although Sulla had Ushered in an Era of Peace, his Efforts to Break the Alemannic Confederation, Vassalising the Marcomanni and Pacifying the Carpi, are only Temporary Solutions in the long Run. In Germania, for many Thousands of Independent Tribes, Rome Remains a Common Enemy, and the System of Tribal Alliances that had Sustained the Alemanni Remains in Place. In a bad Decision for Rome, the Alemannic Wars had been Unprovoked ~ Merely a Reaction to the Confederation’s Growing Power, Breeding Speculation that the Romans will Attack without Provocation once again and Fuelling a Desire to be the Aggressor in the next War. In the Alemannic Confederation, a new Generation of Alemanni, Bereft of any Memory of their Defeat at the Hands of the Romans, does not have the Gall to Invade the Empire until this Date, Hoping to Force the Romans to Cede Territory around their Brethren Living South of the River Rhine. After the First Alemannic War, Sulla had Forcibly Resettled many People from the Original Confederation South of the Germanian Wall along the Rhine, where they have been Slowly Assimilated into Roman Culture. Backing up this Spirit are Tens of Thousands of Warriors ~ unlike his Father, Marcian has Failed to Seek Regular Updates on the Germanian Tribes, Allowing this Second Confederation to Grow Unchecked. As this Force Grows it Threatens to Wreak Havoc within Germania Superior and Raetia, leaving the Romans Ill ~ Prepared to Predict their Invaders’ next Move. The Second Alemannic War has begun. 270 In the Roman Empire, the Adopted Successor of the Late Caesar Publius Septimius Marcianus, Lucius Domitius Aurelianus, himself a Popular Military Leader, is Proclaimed Caesar of Rome by the Imperial Senate. 275 25th September In the Roman Empire, Caesar Aurelian is Murdered by the Praetorian Guard near the City of Byzantium, Thrace. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as One of Rome’s shortest Reigning, but most Significant Caesars, Breathing new Life into a Dying Empire and Reunifying Rome under One Ruler Following the Crisis of The Third Century, Saving Rome from what had seemed almost Certain Collapse. Aurelian will also be Remembered as a Religious Reformer, Reinforcing the Cult of Sol Invictus as the Main Divinity of the Roman Pantheon at a Time when many Romans were losing their Faith in the Traditional Greco-Roman Gods. Many will Speculate that, without Aurelian, the Empire might never have Survived the Invasions and Fragmentations which Occurred during the Decade during which he Reigned. 20th November In the Roman Empire, the Army, Remorseful at the Effects of the Previous Century’s Military License, which has Resulted in the Murder of a Popular Emperor, Relinquishes its Right of choosing his Successor to the Senate. Initially, the Senate is Hesitant to Accept the Responsibility but, as the Delay Drags on from Aurelian’s Death, the Senate Resolves to Settle the Matter and Offers the Throne to the Adopted Son of the Late Caesar, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, a 30 ~ Year ~ old Cavalry Commander from the Saxon Wars. Before his Election, Diocletian had been Living in Nicomedia, Bythinia et Pontus, and only Reluctantly Returns on the Invitation of the Assembly of the Senate in Rome, where he is Invested with Imperial Regalia. Diocletian Immediately asks the Senators to Deify Aurelian before Arresting and Executing Aurelian’s Murderers. 285 21st July In the Roman Empire, the Murder of Aurelian had Demonstrated how Dangerous Sole Rule is to the Stability of the Empire. War is Brewing in the Border Provinces, from Britannia through to Cappadocia, and it is too much for One Man to Control. In Mediolanum, Caesar Diocletian Raises his Fellow Officer, Maximian, to the Rank of Caesar, making him Co ~ Emperor. The Concept of Dual Rulership is nothing new to the Roman Empire. Long ago, Augustus had Shared his Power with his Colleagues, and the more Formal Office of Co ~ Emperor has Existed since the Time of Marcus Aurelius onwards. 284 In the Roman Empire, in Common with many Pre ~ Industrial Civilizations, Communication over a long Distance is a Problem. Since the Time of Augustus, the and Government of Rome have used a Nationwide Postal Service to Communicate Military Reports, Tax Revenue, Census Info, Foreign News and other Public Affairs to the Appropriate Officials. A Roman Citizen who Wishes to send a Letter will need to be Lucky to find someone Travelling to the Intended Destination and is Willing to Deliver the Letter. No other Form of long ~ Distance Communication is Available for Private Citizens. In the Roman Empire, during the Reign of Caesar Diocletian, the Cursus is Opened to the Citizens of the Empire. By Opening the Cursus, Diocletian has Revealed a Potential Source of Profit and Commercial Benefit to Rome. The new National Postal Service uses Two Systems of Transport: the First, the Swift Service, Employs Messengers on Horseback, Carrying Reports for the Emperor in a Distinct Baton, Administrative Messages in a Purse Slung over the Shoulder, and Private Letters in Saddlebags. The Cheap Service uses Mule ~ Driven Carts carrying Letters and Packages along the Mail Routes. A Regular Journey along the Swift Service is Broken into Stages Involving Two Independent Transfers: 1] the Switching of the Horse and 2] the Switching of the Courier. An Urgent Report from the Military will Require the Original Courier to continue the Journey to Rome, even after Passing the Baton to another Courier. This way, the Report itself will Arrive in Rome as fast as Possible and the Emperor will still Receive an Oral Account from someone with Firsthand Knowledge. 285 21st July In the Roman Empire, the Murder of Aurelian had Demonstrated how Dangerous Sole Rule is to the Stability of the Empire. War is Brewing in the Border Provinces, from Britannia through to Cappadocia, and it is too much for One Man to Control. In Mediolanum, Caesar Diocletian Raises his Fellow Officer, Maximian, to the Rank of Caesar, making him Co ~ Emperor. The Concept of Dual Rulership is nothing new to the Roman Empire. Long ago, Augustus had Shared his Power with his Colleagues, and the more Formal Office of Co ~ Emperor has Existed since the Time of Marcus Aurelius onwards. 300 In the Western Roman Empire, by this Time, Rome has Grown into the largest City in the World, Surpassing Sais in Egypt, which Houses 400,000 People. By the Turn of the Millennium, Rome already Houses over Half a Million People, and by 300, is Home to a Population of 1,700,000, of which 1.2 Million are Citizens and 500,000 are Slaves. A City of this Size is without Precedent in European and Human History and new Techniques in Social Engineering are Necessary to Maintain this Behemoth. Farms in Italy can Barely Supply a Third of the Agricultural needs of Rome, Despite Supplying Virtually all of the City’s Wine, Olive Oil, and Garum. Half of the City’s Food comes in on Ships Arriving in Ostia and Neapolis, Carrying Grain, Vegetables and other Consumables Directly from Hispania, Sicily, Syria, Africa, and Egypt. The rest of the Food is Brought in by Road from Gallia and Germania. Other Italian Cities are Similarly Dependant on the rest of the Empire for most of their Food. It is a Fragile System, but, for Rome, there is no Alternative. 303 24th February In the Roman Empire, Rome had long ago taken Note of the Execution of a Jewish Philosopher Called “Yeshua” in the Egyptian Province of Judaea, who is also Known as “Christos” by his Followers, and of a Minor Cult that had Grown up around him ~ and Governors in Provinces where it takes Root are sometimes Alarmed by the Rate at which it Spreads. The of Mesopotamia becomes the First De Facto Christian Province, and with the Annexation of Armenia, Rome has another Province with a Christian Majority on her Hands and no Motivation or Awareness to Handle this Shift in Demographics. Christianity Endorses Ideas which Resonate with the Roman Lower Classes ~ the Resurrection of the Dead and, unlike the Traditional Greco-Roman Religion, Reward for the Suffering of Life in Heaven. These Ideals help Spread Support for the Cult with an almost Viral Effectiveness. However, Christianity has another Advantage besides the Desirability of its Ideals to the Rabble: Patricians are Drawn to Christianity by its Inherent Pacifism, an Attitude that Wins it Strong Praise at Social Gatherings for the Upper Classes and Stories of Martyrs who Allowed their Prosecutors to Execute them rather than Defend themselves for their Faith are Regularly told at Dinner Parties, Garnering both Sympathy and Admiration from those Discussing the Events. In the Roman Empire, Diocletian is no Fan of Christianity ~ he is Conservative in Matters of Religion, a Man Faithful to the Greco-Roman Pantheon, and Understanding of Demands for Religious Purification. When Rumours begin reaching Diocletian’s Ears that One of his Military Commanders in the Eastern Regions, Georgios of Lydia, has been Favourably Allocating Grain Shipments to Christians over Jews and has been Spending Provincial Funds on Christian Bishops, the Emperor Feels Conflicted; not only is Georgios One of his best Commanders, he is a Personal Friend whom Diocletian had Persuaded to Join the Army in the First Place and these are Serious Accusations since Diocletian likes Jews and Strongly dislikes the Followers of Christ. In Response, Galerius Persuades Diocletian to Issue Letters Demanding that the Entire Army to make Sacrifices to the Greco-Roman Gods or Face Dismissal. There is very little Resistance to this new Law since most Legionaries tend to come from Sections of Society which are less Inclined Towards Christianity. Any Legionary Officers who are Christians Obey these Orders since they Value their Loyalty to Rome over a few of their Beliefs. In the Roman Empire, Georgios is not One of those who Complies; he uses his Rank and his Prestige to Arrange a Meeting with the Emperor in Nicomedia, Denouncing the new Laws to his Face and Proudly Proclaiming his Membership of the Christian Cult. Diocletian Spares no Expense in bringing in the most Eloquent Roman Priests to Argue the Case for the Empire’s Illustrious State Religion, but George will not Concede his Position. Finally, Diocletian has had enough and Decides to make an Example of George by Ordering that he be Beheaded on the Grounds of Blasphemy. 23rd April In the Roman Empire, George goes to his Death with Dignity. After Donating his Personal Fortune to the Poor, George Meets with his Executioner outside the Esquiline Gate. A Crowd Consisting of Tens of Thousands of Roman Christians, some even from the Senate, has Assembled to Witness his Martyrdom. 305 1st May In the Western Roman Empire, Augustus Maximian Abdicates in a Separate Ceremony in Mediolanum. Due to the Influence of Galerius, he is not Pleased with the new Tetrarchy, even though he Personally Leads the Ceremony which Installs Flavius Severus as Caesar. While Diocletian Retires to his Palace in Spálathos, Maximian Retires to Villas in Campania, there to Live a Life of Ease and Luxury far from the Political Centres of the Empire, although he and Diocletian Remain Close enough to stay in Regular Contact. In the Western Roman Empire, the new Western Augustus, Flavius Severus, Moves his Capital from Rome to the City of Mediolanum in Northern Italy. Constantius Chlorus, the Northern Augustus, Requests a Leave for his Son, Constantine, who Remains at Galerius’s Court in as a Virtual Hostage. 314 3rd December In the Roman Empire, Diocletian, Caesar of Rome since 275, Commits Suicide upon Hearing of the Forced Abdication and Suicide of his Co ~ Emperor, Maximian, in his Palace in the City of Spálathos, Illyria. He will be Remembered by Future Historians as the Emperor who Stabilised the Empire Economically and Militarily, Presiding over the Formation of the Tetrarchy, a System of Governance whereby Four Emperors ~ Two Senior and Two Junior ~ Ruled over a Quarter ~ Division of the Empire, as De Facto Sovereign , with new Administrative Centres in Nicomedia [Eastern Rome], Mediolanum [Western Rome], Sirmium [Southern Rome], and Treverorum [Northern Rome], much Closer to the Frontier than the Traditional Capital, Rome. Ultimately, not all of Diocletian’s Plans are Successful; his Edict on Maximum Prices is seen as Counterproductive and is largely Ignored, and although Effective while he Ruled, Diocletian’s Tetrarchic System Collapsed after his Abdication without his Guiding Hand, falling into Civil War between the Competing Claims of Maxentius and Constantine. Diocletianic Persecution, the Empire’s last Official ~ and most Severe ~ Persecution of Christianity not only Fails to Eliminate Christianity from the Empire, it Generates Sympathy for the Christian’s Suffering among the Pagan Crowds, Winning over many new Converts. He will also be Considered the Founder of the City of Split in Dalmatia, as the City Grew up around Diocletian's Palace, and the Palace Ruins will Remain the Historic Core of Split.

Anonymous

True they skipped the Atlantic they boarded and went flying to the pacific. 😀😀 plus I was the water so I saw it all.

Anonymous

Thanks for addressing my question. So many of us learned "the Roman Empire fell, then Dark Ages, then Renaissance". In my preliminary digging historians have said that Rome (or Ravenna) may have fallen, but the social changes of the early medieval period began in the last few centuries of the Western Roman Empire and carried on, with changes in administration, for the next thousand years. Which might make for an interesting series ... or a really boring one.

Anonymous

Hey Robert, as a fellow UH alum I am curious if you had Dr. Speigel's Greek and Roman history classes? He was great at making flippant jokes when teaching all of this serious matter.

Bill Lemmond

What is the time limit on Tik Tok? Would a decent coverage of Opia Severina fit there, and draw people to your longer videos? It might be the only thing most of the world ever learns about her.