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As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century (per the Julian/Gregorian calendar and anno Domini era) was that century which lasted from 301 to 400.
The early part of the century is shaped by Constantine I, who is notable for moving the imperial capital from Rome to Byzantium (soon renamed Constantinople in honor of it's founder), and his conversion to Christianity - the first Roman Emperor to do so. Constantine is also the last emperor to control both the eastern and western halves of the empire. As the century progresses after his death it becomes increasingly apparent that the empire has changed in many ways since the time of Augustus. The two emperor system originally established by Diocletian in the previous century falls into regular practice, and the east continues to grow in importance as a centre of trade and imperial power, while Rome itself diminishes greatly in importance due to it's location far from potential trouble spots, like central europe and the east. Late in the century Christianity becomes the official state religion, and the empire's old pagan culture begins to disappear. General Prosperity is felt throughout this period, but security problems plague the empire from AD376 onward - recurring invasions by Germanic tribes. These early invasions mark the beginning of the end for the Western Roman Empire.
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