The Crisis of the Third Century was a half-century of near collapse in the Roman Empire, beginning with the murder of Emperor Severus Alexander by his own troops. Dozens of generals were proclaimed emperor, and most died violently, so that central authority repeatedly broke down. At the same time Goths, Alamanni and other peoples raided the frontiers, and the Sasanian Persians captured the emperor Valerian in battle. The Empire temporarily split, with a Gallic Empire in the west and Palmyra's rule in the east, while debasement of the coinage fuelled inflation and plague added to the damage. Aurelian reunited the realm, and Diocletian's reforms at the end of the period created a more rigid, heavily militarized state.
Before and after
- from 220 CE to 589 CEWei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties
- from 224 CE to 651 CESasanian Empire
- from 229 CE to 233 CEFirst Mesopotamian campaign of Ardashir I
- c. 233 CEEruption of Taupo
- from 235 CE to 284 CECrisis of the Third Century
- 238 CEConstruction of Roman amphitheatre of El Jem
- c. 240 CEEruption of Ksudach
- 245 CERise of Neoplatonism
- 250 CEDeath of Nagarjuna
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- c. 1,051 BCEThe Phoenician alphabet spreads
- from c. 753 BCE to 476 CEAncient Rome
- 323 BCEConstruction of Temple of Ephesian Artemis
- from 312 BCE to 63 BCESeleucid Empire
- from 279 BCE to 1480Construction of Lighthouse of Alexandria
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century.