4th Century Western History


	The 4th Century CE	300s CE

300s - Christians persecuted by Diocletian 303-11 304 Armenia becomes the first Christian state. c. 304 Arab philosopher Iamblichus combined Neoplatonism with Pythagoreanism and started a shool in Syria which also taught the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle.	310s - Edicts of Toleration 311 & 313 319 Arian Controversy begins during debates at Alexandria when other presbyters and bishops adopt Arius' and Bishop Lucian's conception of Christ.
320s - 306-337 Constantine [W, later all] 307-323 Licinius [E] 324 Constantine begins fortification and adornment of Byzantium. 325 In an attempt to unify Christian faith in the empire, Constantine convenes Council of Nicea, which formulates Nicene Creed based on the Trinitarian beliefs of Athanasius, rejecting Arius' beliefs as heresy.	330s - 330 May 11 Constantinople dedicated as New Rome, but comes to be called Constantinople. 336 Arius dies in the Forum of Constantine from violent convulsions, rendering him disemboweled. 337 Constantine dies and requests baptism rites from Arian Bishop Eusebius. All male relatives of Constantine's 3 sons (Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans), except Julian & Gallus, executed.
340s - 337-361 Constantius II [E,W, later all] 337-350 Constans [Africa] 342-3 Constantius' promotion of Arianism causes Christians to slaughter each other in the thousands in Alexandria and Constantinople. Pagan temples are outlawed thruout empire. Jews taxed and segregated. 340s Arian Bishop Ulfilas creates Gothic alphabet and translates Greek scriptures for Visigoths, leading to spread of Arianism among Germans who will later conquer the Western Empire.	350s 337-361 Constantius II 354 Gallus executed by Constantius for despotic cruelty as Antiochan Governor. His younger half-brother Julian is banished to Athens, where he delights in the study of philosophy.
360s 361 Emperor Julian attempts to revive paganism as an ethical religion. He orders rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem so that Jews can make animal sacrifices to Yahweh. Mysterious fire (natural gas?) halts temple construction. Julian killed (probably assasinated) while campaigning to liberate Armenia. 363 367 Bishop Athanasius issues list of scriptures that will form the New Testament. Validity of the book of Revelation remains in dispute.	370s 372 Huns cross the Volga River. 378 Battle of Adrianople - Visigoths def. Valens
380s 2nd Ecumenical Council 381 adresses controversies of Apollinarianism and Montanism, affirms and expands Nicene Creed. 382-92 Pagan statue of Victory (Nike) removed from Roman Senate, later returned. 386 After ten years as a Manichaean, St. Augustine is baptized in Milan	390s Christianity becomes state religion 391 End of Olympian Games 394 End of Imperial Unity after Theodosius I 396-98 Alaric & Visigoths plunder Greece and Balkans 397 Confessions of St Augustine

300s