3rd century

While in North Africa, Roman rule continued with growing Christian influence, particularly in the region of Carthage.

After the death of Commodus in the late previous century the Roman Empire was plunged into a civil war.

The majority of these men were assassinated, or killed in battle, and the empire almost collapsed under the weight of the political upheaval, as well as the growing Persian threat in the east.

Under its new Sassanid rulers, Persia had grown into a rival superpower, and the Romans would have to make drastic reforms in order to better prepare their state for a confrontation.

These reforms were finally realized late in the century under the reign of Diocletian, one of them being to divide the empire into an eastern and western half, and have a separate ruler for each.