Listening to BBC's In Our Time program the other day they mentioned that Constantine's relocating the capital of the Empire from Rome itself to somewhere in the East was probably a change that was overdue by two centuries due to demographics, politics, and economics. They also mentioned that there had been some discussion of Augustus moving the capital (possibly to Egypt) when he first became emperor.
So what if Augustus had made that call and chose some site in the East, like Alexandria, Byzantium, or even Nicomedia? Presumably the West beyond Italy would immediately decline in importance but could the Empire could see some more economic and political stability? What other repercussions might there be?
So what if Augustus had made that call and chose some site in the East, like Alexandria, Byzantium, or even Nicomedia? Presumably the West beyond Italy would immediately decline in importance but could the Empire could see some more economic and political stability? What other repercussions might there be?