The reign of Emperor Justinian I and his wife, Empress Theodora

Justinian, Emperor of Byzantium

I. Born the son of a peasant with distant relations to the Imperial throne.

II. He enacts many reforms and policies in his long reign that help to preserve the culture of ancient Rome.

III. We will go through these Achievements one at a time and describe each in detail.

Achievement # 1Reforming the Laws of Rome

1. The Laws of Ancient Rome had not been sorted out in many centuries. They were the laws of the Roman Empire, but they were simply remembered by law experts.

2. He sets his court to collecting, revising and organizing Roman laws.

3. The Corpus Juris Civilis – “Body of Civil Law”

4. Becomes the model for law systems throughout all of Europe, including the Roman Catholic Church.

5. Also guided law thinking today.

RESULT:HUGELY important. Preserved Roman law and

became the basis of law for all western governments from that day forward. Including the Catholic Church.

Achievement # 2The Reconquest of Rome

Justinian was determined to get back the old lands of the Western Roman Empire.

He launches a series of bloody and expensive wars to do so.

Under command of his general Belisarius, Byzantine armies recapture North Africa, Italy and Southern Spain.

In the end, the cost of these wars meant they could not hold onto the land they had conquered for long.

After Justinian dies (of old age), the lands are quickly lost again

Result: Hurt the Byzantine empire. Far too expensive an undertaking. The victories of his armies were not possible to maintain because of the huge costs involved.

Achievement # 3The Preservation of Imperial Authority and the growth of Byzantine Power

Continues the Roman tradition of autocratic rule. Uses his authority to control Church activities in

his empire Pivotal Moment: The Nika Rebellion

See Reading Also made trade routes to the east safer and more

efficient by making new agreements and alliances.

Also responsible for the smuggling of silk worms into the empire, making Byzantine silk production possible.

Result: Preserved autocratic rule for future emperors. Increased the effectiveness of Byzantine trade and economics.

Achievement #4The transmission of Greco-Roman culture

Like Augustus in Rome, Justinian built many magnificent buildings.

In doing so, he preserved Greco-Roman art styles.

His buildings used Roman architecture styles as well as art styles.

Most important was the Church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom)

It was burned down during the Nika Rebellion. Justinian wanted to make it a monument to his faith (Christianity).

Roman architecture like arches and Greek architecture like columns are widely used.

Roman art like mosaics are widely used.

Result: This and other building projects display the influence of Greco-Roman civilization. Justinian embraces and transmits it to the future.