THE ECONOMIC REFORMS OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 192 - 211, 20.07.2025

Ezgigül Doğan Öztürk

Öz

The era of Constantine the Great is an important turning point in the history of the Roman Empire. The steps taken during this period left permanent marks in shaping the future of the empire. Constantine, who won the power struggle that started after the Tetrarchial Period and made Rome a powerful empire again, made radical changes in the economic structure of the empire, as well as in its political and religious structure. Constantine tried to correct the imbalances and financial problems in the old system by introducing gold solidus and new silver coins into circulation. Especially with the introduction of the solidus, the foundations of Rome’s monetary system were solidified, contributing to long term financial stability. In addition, new tax practices such as the collatio lustralis tax levied on individuals engaged in trade and professions and the collatio follis tax levied on senators helped strengthen the fiscal structure. owever, these taxes had varying impacts on different social classes, particularly placing an additional burden on the lower classes.
Constantine has generally been studied as an emperor who came to the fore with his religious reforms and his influence on Christianity. However, Constantine had important regulations that transformed the economic structure of the Roman Empire and had long-term effects. The aim of this study is to examine the reforms made by Constantine on the financial structure and to reveal the effects of these regulations on economic and social life. Additionally, it aims to emphasize the historical importance of these overlooked reforms and evaluate their impact in re-consolidating the economic power of the Roman Empire.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Constantine , Economic Reforms , Solidus , Miliarensis

BÜYÜK CONSTANTINUS’UN İKTİSADİ REFORMLARI

Öz

Büyük Constantinus dönemi, Roma İmparatorluk tarihinin önemli bir dönüm noktasıdır. Bu dönemde atılan adımlar imparatorluğun geleceğinin şekillenmesinde kalıcı izler bırakmıştır. Tetrarchia Dönemi’nin ardından başlayan iktidar mücadelesini kazanarak Roma’yı yeniden güçlü bir imparatorluk haline getiren Constantinus, imparatorluğun siyasi ve dini yapısında olduğu gibi ekonomik yapısında da köklü değişiklikler yapmıştır. Constantinus, altın solidus ve yeni gümüş sikkeler tedavüle sokarak eski sistemdeki dengesizlikleri ve mali sorunları gidermeye çalışmıştır. Özellikle solidusun tedavüle girmesiyle Roma’nın para sisteminin temelleri sağlamlaştırılmış ve uzun vadede mali istikrarın sağlanmasına katkıda bulunmuştur. Ayrıca, ticaretle uğraşan ve meslek sahibi bireylerden alınan collatio lustralis vergisi ve senatörlerden alınan collatio follis vergisi gibi yeni vergi uygulamaları mali yapının güçlenmesine yardımcı olmuştur. Ancak söz konusu vergiler toplumsal kesimler üzerinde değişen etkiler yaratmış, özellikle alt sınıflara ek yük getirmiştir.
Constantinus, genellikle dini reformları ve Hıristiyanlık üzerindeki etkisiyle ön plana çıkmış bir imparator olarak incelenmiştir. Ancak Constantinus’un Roma İmparatorluğu’nun ekonomik yapısını dönüştüren ve uzun vadeli etkiler bırakan önemli düzenlemeleri bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı Constantinus’un mali yapı üzerinde yaptığı reformlarını inceleyerek bu düzenlemelerin ekonomik ve toplumsal hayata olan etkilerini ortaya koymaktır. Aynı zamanda göz ardı edilen bu reformların tarihsel önemini vurgulayarak Roma İmparatorluğu’nun ekonomik gücünü yeniden sağlamlaştırmadaki etkilerini değerlendirmektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Constantinus , İktisadi Reformlar , Solidus , Miliarensis

Kaynakça

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