ABSTRACT
The restored Empire of Diocletian and Constantine was still recognizably Roman. Nevertheless, such changes had taken place in the Roman world by the beginning of the fourth century that scholars have seen the beginning of a new period of ancient Greco-Roman history, called Late Antiquity. In effect, the Roman government created a two-tiered system, a stable one based on gold and an unstable one based on copper. The gold system benefited the government and the wealthy. The economic advantage enjoyed by wealthy senatorial landowners and emperors meant the continued amassing of vast landholdings in a few hands. Christian Church became a major economic influence. Constantine first allowed churches to inherit property. By the end of the century, churches had acquired vast landholdings. Women's rights were still more restricted than men's in Roman law. Christian thinkers recognized women as the spiritual equal of men, but still did not let them have the most prestigious roles in the Church.
