A coin from the Britannic Empire of Carausius – Wth thanks to Wikipedia In Gaul, early in the reign of Diocletian the peasants rose in revolt.  Hang on, peasants?  In the Roman Empire? We haven’t come across those yet.  Up until now internal dissension has been common enough in the empire, but a widespread insurrection

Diocletian – Humble Birth, Great Achievements (thanks to Wikipedia for the image) There are just over a hundred recorded Roman emperors but few of them had as much impact as Diocletian.  It is a very human failing to imagine that we are immortal and to take little thought for the consequences for the world when

Was the Roman Empire stopped in its tracks by the Scots?  (Hint: No) The Internet being what it is, there are probably quite a few walls blogging nowadays.  But I think it is fair to say that there are only two walls that probably deserve a blog.  The Great Wall of China should, and for

Brennus – A Gaulish Chief who sacked Rome in 390 BC How did the Roman Empire survive the huge problems it faced during the crisis of the Third Century?  In my extended review of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire I have just reached the reign of Diocletian.  But before moving forward I’d

‘That’s how China could finally finish off America, give them aid!’ ‘They are pretty much doing that already’ Exchange between Niall Ferguson and Dambisa Moyo I don’t want to get into the habit of  doing this, but this is a book I haven’t actually read.  What I have done is listened to a podcast where

 The idea that climate change has played a role in the fall of the Roman Empire has a long history itself.  Gibbon mentions it as a possibility in Chapter 9 of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.  But I have looked in vain for actual information on  what exactly the climate was actually