Guess Who? 527 a high-ranking nobleman suceeded his uncle’s throne of Eastern Empire.                       

JUSTINIAN

Justinian’s accomplishments Armies won nearly all of Italy, and parts of Spain (Western Empire) He ruled both the empire and the church. Rebuilt Constantinople’s wall. Building many churches i.e. Hagia Sophia (means Holy Wisdom) and much, much more. Justinian Code

Justinian Code Panel of legal experts (400 years of Roman law) Uniform code Consisted of four works. Regulated whole areas of Byzantine life.

Justinian Code Cont. The Code- contained nearly 5,000 Roman laws The Digest- quoted and summarized opinions of Rome’s greatest legal thinkers (50 volumes) The Institutes- textbook that told law students how to use laws. Novellae- new laws after 534

Education Classical learning Greek Latin grammar Philosophy Classic literature served as textbooks Students memorized Homer. Geometry from Euclid History from Herodotus Medicine from Galen Preservation of these works

Word on the Street Merchant stalls lined the main street (Asia Africa and Europe) Food Stands Acrobats/musicians Hippodrome- held 60,000 spectators IT WAS FREE BABY!! Wild chariot races Performance acts.

Hippodrome Fans

Hippodrome Fans cont. They would form gangs named for the colors worn by their heroes. Two of the gangs in 532 started Nika Rebellion

Nika Rebellion Citywide riots Nika means Victory/Conquer Both sides angry at government. Took riot to Hippodrome Belisarius (his best general) broke in w/troops and slaughtered about 30,000 rebels

How did Justinian handle it? Justinian considered fleeing during the Nika rebellion. His wife Theodora urged him to stay with a fiery speech.

Parts of her Speech “….Emperor, nothing prevents you. There is the sea, there are the steps to the boats. But take care that after you are safe, you do not find that you would gladly exchange that safety for death.” -Theodora, quoted by Procopius in History of the Wars.

Empress Theodora Empress Theodora 500-548 Most powerful woman in Byzantine history, rose from poverty became actress. Met with foreign envoys, wrote to foreign leaders, passed laws, and built churches. After her death Justinian was so depressed he passed no major laws for the rest of his reign

Plague Resembled what we know as bubonic plague/ from rats. During worst outbreaks 10,000 people every day!!!!! Broke out repeatedly until 700 AD destroyed huge percentage of population.

Outside Attacks Lombards- Germanic tribe took Italy Avars, Slavs, Bulgars- northern borders They are nomadic and came mostly from Europe. Sassanid- Persians Arab armies Russians 11th century Turks (had taken over Muslim world)

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