Emperor Constantine

Born: February 27, 272 A.D. in Serbia
Died: May 22, 337 A.D. in Turkey

Early Life

• Constantine, born out of wedlock, had grown to school age before he and his mother were united with his father, to live as a family at the mansion.
• In 289, Constantine father arranged with the Emperor Diocletian to divorce his wife, Helena, and marry Emperor's Maximian's daughter, Theodora, and have his son, Constantine serve in Diocletian's imperial court.

Life in Ancient Rome

• In Roman's family, the whole authority rested in father's hands.
• Wealthy Romans have slaves, and lived in villas. The poor lived in cottages, rented rooms, and flat houses.
• Boys and girls started their education at 7 years old.
• A tunic was the most important part of Roman clothing.

Formal Education

• Constantine received a formal education at Diocletian’s court where he learned Literature, Latin, Greek and Philosophy, and was able to mix with a variety of pagan and Christian scholars.

Accomplishments

• Constantine's achievements as emperor included building projects, administrative reform, financial restructuring, and military reorganization.
• The Arch of Constantine built near the Colosseum in Rome from 312 to 315 AD, was one of the most impressive structures attributed to Constantine.

Why is this person historically significant?

• The two important events marked the reign of Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of Rome were: - He made Christianity a lawful religion in Roman society. - He founded the city of Constantinople, the brilliant capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Important Information

• Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, persecutions of the Christians ended and mandated the toleration of Christians.
• Constantine gave legal rights and large financial donations to Christian church.
• He introduced administrative reforms - the separation of civil and military authority.

Famous Quote

• “For he who is Lord of all cannot endure that those blessings which, in his own loving-kindness and consideration of the wants of men he has revealed for the rise of all, should be perverted to serve the lusts of any. His only demand from man is purity of mind and an undefiled spirit; and by this standard he weighs the actions of virtue and godliness.” ―Constantine the Great Read more at http://izquotes.com/author/constantine-the-great

Bibliography

• "Emperor Constantine." Emperor Constantine. Ed. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, n.d. Web.
• Bibliography.com Editors. "Constantine I Biography." The Biography.com Website. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.