AD 313 to AD 524

Society

AD 313. The Roman emperor Constantine accepts Christianity.

Literature

Nicene Creed. Council of Nicea. Catholic Church. AD 325. Asserts the divinity of Christ and faith in the Trinity vs. Arianism, the belief that Christ, the Son, is not equal to the Father. Filioque clause: Holy Ghost proceeds from Son and Father. Cause of the schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.

Society

AD 330. Constantinople is dedicated May 11, as the new capital of the Roman world.

AD 333. The Romans begin pulling troops out of Britain.

AD 360. The Huns invade Europe.

AD 383. Christianity has become the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.

AD 391. Alexandria's library, a wonder of the ancient world, is destroyed by fire.

AD 395. The Roman Empire splits into eastern and western empires.

Literature

The Confessions of Saint Augustine. St. Augustine. Roman. AD 397-401. Autobiography. Introspective analysis of the author's own spiritual experiences. First in literature. Shows the details of the soul's progress from the enjoyment of the beauties outside itself to the study of its own nature, finally to the joy in knowledge of God. Focuses on his mother, his concubine, Manicheanism, neo-Platonism, and his conversion.

Panchatantra (Book of Five Chapters). Bidpai. India. AD. 400. Fables. Fables in Sanscrit for the edification of the Indian king's sons.

Mudraraksas (The Minister's Signet Ring). AD 400. Play. Absence of any central female character. Clash between wily and loyal ministers in the government.

Society

AD 401. Visigoths penetrate the northern defenses of Italy and begin to ravage the countryside.

AD 407. Britain is evacuated by Roman legions who are needed closer to home.

AD 408. Visigoths besiege Rome.

AD 410. Invading Huns ravage the Roman Empire and exhort tribute.

Literature

The City of God. Augustine. Roman. AD. 413/426. Treatise. Apology for Christianity against the accusation that the Church was responsible for the decline of the Roman Empire.

Society

AD 430. Bishop Patrick is sent as a missionary to Ireland.

AD 431. The cult of the Virgin begins to spread westward from Byzantium following a decree of the Council of Ephesus recognizing Mary as the Mother of God.

AD 433. Attila becomes leader of the Huns.

AD 436. The last Roman legions leave Britain.

AD 449. Britain is conquered by Angles and Saxons.

AD 450. The Hawaiian Islands are discovered by Polynesian chief Hawaii-Loa.

AD 455. Rome is sacked by the Vandals.

AD 476. The Western Roman Empire founded by Augustus Caesar (Octavian) in 27 BC ends formally.

AD 508. Paris is established as the Frankish capital by Clovis.

AD 513. Mount Vesuvius erupts as it did in AD. 79, burying Pompeii once more under lava, mud and ashes.

Literature.

The Consolation of Philosophy. Boethius. Roman. AD. 524. Nonfiction. Written while in prison awaiting execution. Dialogue in alternating prose and verse. Neo-Plaonism, stoicism. Unreality of earthly fortunes. Highest good is the happiest in God. Reconciles apparent contradiction between the existence of evil if God is all good and powerful and the existence of man's free will if God has foreknowledge of everything.