Simon Corcoran · 1996 · historical narrative analysis · n=?

The Empire of the Tetrarchs

Cited 83 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Level 5 by design analogy (non-clinical scholarship); expert historical synthesis and narrative analysis without quantitative or experimental data.

OpenAlex W4388390734 · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198149842.001.0001 · record verified 2026-08-31

What was done

Historical narrative and political analysis examining the Roman imperial transition between 284 and 324 AD, tracing the formation, operation, and dissolution of Diocletian's tetrarchic system.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical or quantitative metrics. It describes the chronological progression of the tetrarchy, noting that the formal four-ruler structure (two Augusti and two Caesars) functioned from 293 to 306 AD, followed by political fragmentation from 305 to 324 AD after Diocletian's abdication, concluding in 324 AD with the consolidation of power under a single Christian dynasty.

Why it matters

Synthesizes the political narrative of the Tetrarchic period, outlining how administrative reforms under Diocletian set the structural framework for Late Roman governance across three centuries.

Limits

As a descriptive historical work, it does not employ quantitative methods or experimental designs. The abstract does not specify the documentary, archaeological, or epigraphic primary sources evaluated.

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