Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

54  INTRODUCING IT AL Y

The Splitting of the Empire

A decisive turning point in the history of the Roman
Empire came with Emperor Constantine’s conversion
to Christianity in AD 312 and his decision to build a new
capital at Constantinople (Byzantium). By the 5th century
the Empire was split into two. Rome and the Western
Empire could not stem the tide of Germanic invaders
migrating southwards and Italy fell first to the Goths Italy in AD 600
and later to the Lombards. The Eastern Empire retained Byzantine territories
nominal control over parts of Italy from its stronghold Lombard territories
at Ravenna, which became the richest, most powerful
city of the age, while the great palaces and arenas
of Rome were reduced to ruins.

The Donation of Constantine
A medieval legend, encouraged by the
papacy, tells how Constantine granted
Pope Sylvester temporal power over Rome.

Belisarius
(500–565) was
a general who
won much of
Italy back from
the Goths.

Theodolinda of the Lombards Justinian reigned from
The 6th-century queen converted her 527 to 565. He was a
people to orthodox Catholicism. Here, great lawgiver and one
gold is melted for the church she built of the most powerful
at Monza (see p205). Byzantine emperors.

404 Ravenna becomes seat 547 Church
303–5 Persecution of of the Western Empirer Gold coin of
Christians throughout Theodoric of San Vitale c.595 Lombards
the Empire in the reign 312 Constantine defeats in Ravenna control two-
of Diocletian rival Maxentius at Battle 488 Italy invaded by the thirds of Italy
of the Milvian Bridge Theodoric the Ostrogoth
200 300 400 500
270 Aurelian Wall built 313 Edict of 324 Christianity 476 End of the 535 Belisarius 564 Lombards
to protect Rome from Milan grants becomes state religion Western Empire lands in Sicily; invade Italy,
Germanic invaders freedom of reconquest of establishing
worship to c.320 Building of first 410 Sack of Rome most of Italy by their capital
Christians St Peter’s in Rome by Alaric the Visigoth Byzantine Empire at Pavia

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