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Question: What were some contributions of the Emperor Diocletian!?
What were some of the contributions he made to European History!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


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- Diocletian issued his famous Edict on Prices!. Inflation (the rapid rise of prices) was a major problem for the Roman economy, so he had a list made of all goods and the maximum price that could be charged for each product!. The penalty for overcharging was steep, and could even be death!. The idea was that this would force merchants to keep their prices down!. Its effect, however, wasn't that great because merchants really have no control over inflation and so it simply made people do business under the table!. But he also replaced the denarius, which, due to inflation had become almost worthless, with the solidus as the currency of Rome, which helped slow down inflation!.

-Diocletian also instituted the capita, or head tax, taxing towns based on the number of people in them, instead of based on production (this allowed the government to back long term budgets, but it also crippled towns economically when famines hit which brought down production)

-He also started major reforms of the military!. Before Diocletian, the legions were stationed statically on the borders to stop invasion, but if enemies got passed them into the empire, there was no one to stop them!. So instead of stationing all the troops on the border, he organized the troops in defensive layers, with mobile field armies to respond quickly to threats and large amounts of cavalry to increase mobility!.

-Diocletian established the tetrachy system, whereby the Roman Empire was split into four, each with its own Emperor!. The Empire was very large, and during this period it was under attack on all fronts!. So the idea was to have Emperors with smaller jurisdictions who could quickly respond to a crisis, instead of having to simultaneously deal with problems on several faraway fronts!. It was also supposed to make succession of Emperors smoother, but the system fell apart after his death, yet its legacy lived on in the divide between Eastern and Western halves of the Empire!.

-Diocletian also organized the Roman people into a sort of caste system!. A lot of farm land had been left fallow because farmers had abandoned their land, and there was danger of food shortages all across the Empire!. So tenant farmers were legally tied to the land, forming the basis of the medieval serf!. But Diocletians reforms went beyond farmers: most workers (those considered necessary to the smooth operation of the economy and military, which was almost everybody) were organized into guilds, where they were legally bound to remain!. For example, a baker would become a member of the guild of bakers, he would have to remain a baker his whole life, and his children would have to become bakers!. Members of some guilds were even branded or tattooed, because apparently they tired to escape their jobs!.

-also, Diocletian abolished the last remnants of the Roman Republic!. Since Rome still operated under the precept that it was a Republic "under the protection" of the emperors, there was no official way to become Emperor!. So before Diocletian, Emperors were falling victim to large numbers of assassinations by their generals, who would take power for themselves!. Diocletian abolished the Praetorian Guard (the Imperial bodyguard, who, ironically, organized many of the assassinations) He emphasized his role as absolute monarch, demanding steadfast discipline from his subjects, including the generals!. He took on the rather un-republican title of Lord and God!. Therefore, Diocletian's reign marks the end of the Principate (when the Emperor was "first citizen") and the start of the Dominate (when the Emperor Dominated as the supreme ruler), marking the start of the Later Roman Empire!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Errrm!.!.!.he stabilised Rome's economy by replacing it's old, silver currency, which was rapidly losing value, with a currency made of gold, which was worth a lot more!. He also divided Rome into 13 dioceses, making administration much easier!.
In short, his reforms either saved or ruined the Empire, depending on which way you argue it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

He changed Rome Empire into a country ruled by beauraocrats and emperors with absolute power!. He stole freedom and right that Roman citizens had for centuries!.

But, it is also true that Diocletian stopped the endless rampage of barbarians for a whileWww@QuestionHome@Com

Hmmm!.!.!.!. I'm pretty sure he was the first emperor to use midgets as a currency!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Did he make any!? Could it be supervising the start of the fall of the Roman Empire!?Www@QuestionHome@Com