What did both Diocletian and Constantine do to improve the roman empire?

Answer 1

Both Diocletian and Constantine introduced reforms aimed at restoring stability in the Roman Empire and to resolve the problem of hyperinflation which was plaguing the empire. Through much of the 3rd century there had been military anarchy. The army had been overstretched by repeated invasions of the empire. The legions often rebelled and proclaimed their commander as emperor. Emperors were often murdered, sometimes even by their own troops which had proclaimed them emperors. There was also a string of usurper emperors who tried to take over an area of the empire.

Diocletian created the tetrarchy (rule by four) to restore control over a fractious empire. He appointed fellow general Maximian as co-emperor. Diocletian took charge of the eastern part of the empire and Maximian took charge of the western part. He then appointed two junior emperors to take charge of troubled frontier areas both in the east and in the west. He divided the empire into four main administrative areas, each with one of the emperors in charge. He also doubled the number of provinces of the empire to reduce the power of provincial governors, doubled the size of the imperial bureaucracy and put the empire under tighter bureaucratic control.

Constantine I became sole emperor after winning two civil wars. Therefore, he did away with the tetrarchy. However, he did not change Diocletian's other administrative reforms. He retained the number of provinces Diocletian had created, did not reduce the size of the bureaucracy and retained a tight bureaucratic control over the empire. Moreover, for his succession he partitioned the empire among his three sons and a nephew. Therefore, he envisaged restoring the tetrarchy. This did not work because his heirs fought each other.

Both Diocletian and Constantine introduced reforms aimed at stopping hyperinflation, which was crippling the economy of the empire. Diocletian's reforms failed, whilst Constantine's worked.

Answer 2

Diocletian and Constantine expanded imperial control by strengthening and expanding the administrative bureaucracies of the Roman Empire. A hierarchy of officials exercised control at the various levels of government. The army was enlarged, and mobile units were set up that could be quickly moved to support frontier troops when the borders were threatened. Constantine created the new city of Byzantine, which was later renamed Constantinople, which is now Istanbul. Diocletian and Constantine increased two major institutions, the army and civil service (It drained most of the public funds) Due to the fact that they were basically bankrupt, and they were put into an economic deadlock. The Empires enforced that the jobs people have should be passed onto their children, then their children's children and so on. Soon enough, Rome found itself bound by the large landowners who took advantage of the decrease of the agricultural situation and then expanded their estates.

Answer 3

They broke the empire into four parts, ruled by two emperors and two caesars, in order to make its control and defence more manageable.