Contrasting Constantinople & Rome in the 4th Century w. Dr Lucy Grig

In the fourth century Rome was still a prominent city and Constantinople became a principal city of Rome. Dr Lucy Grig, Senior Lecturer & Head of the Classics Department, The University of Edinburgh, joins the show to discuss the similarities and contrasts between Constantinople and Rome during the century.

Some topics explored

• Diocletian and his creation of the Tetrarchy and its eventual cessation
• The geopolitical environment in the Roman Empire in the fourth century
• The Roman Emperor Constantine
• The founding of Constantinople in the century (formerly a city called Byzantium)
• The creation of a legislator in Constantinople
• The corn doll and how it was used by scholars to create population estimations
• The Christian churches in Rome and Constantinople
• Physical buildings including bath houses
• Various emperors in the fourth century
• Population estimates in Rome and Constantinople in the century

Listen to the episode

The episode is available on major podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Show Notes

• Dr Grig is Co-Editor of the book Two Romes: Rome and Constantinople in Late Antiquity (Oxford University Press, 2012) and Editor of the book Popular Culture in the Ancient World (Cambridge University Press, 2021)