317CE

317 CE is a year in the 4th century CE, corresponding to the Julian calendar and the Gregorian calendar. This period marks a significant transformation in the history of the Roman Empire, particularly following the abdication of Emperor Diocletian in 305 CE.

The year 317 CE saw the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great, also known as Constantine I, who ruled the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Constantine the Great's rise to power is notable for marking the beginning of Christianity's emergence as a major world religion. He issued the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, which granted toleration to Christians throughout the empire. This change played a significant role in the spread of Christianity.

In 317 CE, Constantine also struggled with challenges from internal power struggles and external threats. His co-emperors, Licinius and Crispus, held power over the western provinces, and Rome was experiencing significant forces opposing the power of its emperors. Emperor Constantine dealt with these issues by giving bonuses in 319 C.E for service in Britain. Additionally, there are recorded earthworks, constructed by an emperors' directives following troubles by Britanic Celts.

In the world of trade, the year 317 CE is significant for records of Chinese silk production and trade with the Roman Empire. Excavation of Chinese silk fabric at an ancient Roman cemetery in Yorkshire, dated to the mid to late 4th century CE, has provided archaeologists with information about Chinese silk trade during this era. The 317 CE also saw developments in astronomical understanding and mapping by the scholar Epiphanius of Salamis, based on sources from Hellenistic geography.

These significant historical events together reflect the year 317 CE to be full of outward movements in Christianity and the global trade dynamic.