What were Justinian's greatest accomplishments?
His greatest accomplishment was the Hagia Sophia, the most important church of the city. The Hagia Sophia was a staggering work of Byzantine architecture, intended to awe all who set foot in the church.
What did Justinian do as an emperor?
As emperor, Justinian made great reforms in the areas of law, urban development, and conquest. His Justinian Code curbed bureaucratic corruption in the empire for centuries. Theodora was a partner in these reforms and convinced Justinian to reform the roles and responsibilities of women in the empire.
What were Justinian's major accomplishments?
Among Justinian's major accomplishments were: He extended the Byzantine Empire dramatically. Justinian extended the empire back into areas that had previously been part of the Western Roman Empire.
What did Justinian do as emperor?
The rebellion was easily put down and Justinian remained emperor. As emperor, Justinian made great reforms in the areas of law, urban development, and conquest.
What did Justinian codify?
He codified Roman law. There had been many laws passed by Roman legislatures, edicts handed down by emperors, commentaries by legal scholars, and other kinds of materials related to the law. Justinian had these collected in one place and used that as the basis of Byzantine law. This codification would later be used across Europe as the basis for law.
Why did Justinian codify Roman law?
In order to quell the riots, rebuild the city, and reestablish order, Justinian codified Roman Law. He unified law in order to organize the empire. Not only did this help rebuild Constantinople, but it also helped preserve Roman culture in the eastern portion of the Empire.
What was Theodora's role in the reforms?
Theodora was a partner in these reforms and convinced Justinian to reform the roles and responsibilities of women in the empire. Theodora was responsible for establishing royal decorum in the court that further legitimized the authority and respect of the crown.
What was the most important building that Constantinople built?
He had a great deal of building done in Constantinople. The most important of these buildings was the Hagia Sophia, an extremely beautiful church that still stands today.
Which city was the center of Byzantine trade?
Constantinople remained the eastern capital, and became the center for Byzantine trade and culture. Justinian is arguably the most well-known emperor of the Byzantines due to his many achievements. Expansion - with help from his wealthy and domineering wife, Theodora, Justinian pushed to reclaim land in the west.
What were Justinian's achievements?
Justinian, the last emperor to use Latin, ruled until 565, leaving an impressive list of achievements that included the codification of old Roman law, the construction of Hagia Sophia, ...
What was Justinian's influence on the world?
Yet his long reign contributed to the lasting influence of classical culture as well as forming Constantinople and Byzantine commercial interests and culture into an enduring entity lasting until 1453.
What was the result of Justinian's long reign?
The long reign of Justinian resulted in attempts to recover lost western provinces from barbarian control, the codification of Roman law, & construction of Hagia Sophia.
What was the Byzantine Empire threatened by?
In 541, however, the Byzantine Empire was threatened by Persian invasion and Belisarius was reassigned to protect the eastern frontiers. In Italy, Byzantine armies continued to fight the Ostrogoths for over a decade and the land was ravaged by the effects of war.
What happened to Belisarius in Constantinople?
Belisarius eventually lost favor and was blinded, condemned to spend the rest of his life as a beggar on the streets of Constantinople.
Why was Hagia Sophia built?
The “House of Wisdom,” which became one of the largest cathedrals in Christendom, was a testament to Justinian’s support of the Orthodox Church. Massive and imposing, the cathedral was constructed over the remains of previous Christian churches, the first dating back to the earliest days of Constantinople.
Who led the Roman army into battle?
Although Justinian never personally led armies into battle, his attempts to recover lost Roman lands in the west were successfully carried out by superb generals like Belisarius. Defeating the Vandals in North Africa decisively, Belisarius reclaimed Sicily and advanced on Italy, capturing Rome and defeating the barbarian Ostrogoths.
Codification of Roman Law
Construction of Hagia Sophia
Expansion of The Empire and Recovery in The West
- One of Justinian's greatest accomplishments is that he married well. His wife, the Empress Theodora was a savvy politician in her own right. Justinian treated her as her intellectual equal and they for all intents and purposes, ruled the empire together. In fact, Theodora can be credited with saving the throne in 532 when a riot threatened to overt...
Justinian’s Legacy
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