What major crisis in the third century threatened the empire’s stability and led to frequent civil wars?

• A. The Crisis of the Fourth Century
• B. The Crisis of the Second Century
• C. The Crisis of the Third Century
• D. The Crisis of the Tenth Century

Answer: (C)

A period of deep political and military instability in the Roman Empire during the mid-3rd century is what this question is getting at. The best answer names the Crisis of the Third Century, the era roughly from 235 to 284 CE when emperors changed hands constantly, power struggles sparked frequent civil wars, and the empire’s frontiers and economy were under severe stress. It’s this pattern of rapid usurpations, internal conflict, and external pressure that made central authority fragile and nearly shattered Roman rule for a generation or more. The crisis eventually eased with reforms under Diocletian and the establishment of the Tetrarchy, which restored a more durable system of rule. The other options point to periods later or earlier in Roman history, so they don’t describe the same sustained collapse and civil conflict that define the third-century crisis.