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THE EMPIRE IN THE EARLY FOURTH CENTURY 1. Constantine: Reign witnessed the recognition of the political and economical balance that had shifted from the West to the East. Official toleration of the Christian Religion. 2. Mare Nostrum (Mediterranean): Romans called it “our sea”. Main system of commerce. Roads second in trade but more important in the movement of troops. 3. Hellenization: Greek in Culture. 4. Romatization: Romans conquered and imposed Latin language and culture. 5. Bilingualism; Cosmopolitanism: 1st Century A.D. general cosmopolitism among elite society. Bilingual and had much in common. 3rd Century A.D. finds the cosmopolitan fading out, Unifying forces fading, and the shared reverence which kept the Empire together was fading. 6. Italy: By 300 A.D. Italy had suffered depopulation and general impoverishment. Rome maintained the prestige of its history but its power had faded out. 7. Rhaetia; Illyricum (North West Balkans): Latin speaking areas. Extension of Rhaetia is Noricum. Flat Plain extension of Illyricum is Pannonia. Late 3rd Century area of Illyricum supplied best troops, effective generals, and a few Emperors. The main problem was that the power was spent in constan