In this seminar we will analyze the time from the reform of government made by Diocletian and the establishment of a new tetrarchic imperial theology to the religious revolution developed by Constantine based on a new religion: Christianity. We also will see how both Diocletian and Constantine established their government and legitimized their power by basing them on the divine element, the former reinforcing the relationship between the emperors and the traditional gods and the latter embracing the Christian religion.

Furthermore, we will study the change in the way the different emperors treated the Christians, from persecuting them to converting them into their allies to achieve power. We will also analyze how this change in treatment of Christians is interpreted and developed.