Period
-Western Roman Empire falls in 476AD. -Roman Emperor moved the capital to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople. -Constantinople was advantageous to Rome in that it could deal with barbarians, was a huge trading port, and it made protecting the eastern front easier.
Justinian
-In 527 Justinian became emperor through his uncle. -He sent his general Belisarius to reclaim the land lost to the west -Belisarius took North Africa from the Vandals, and Rome from the Ostrogoths. -Justinian then ruled all of former Rome, including Spain and Italy.
Emperors and their Power -Due to the Eastern Orthodoxy beliefs the emperor headed both church and state. -Many emperors were assassinated and other abandoned it all together due to politics. -They also had the power to dismiss and appoint Bishops.
Eastern Roman Empire -As well as speaking Greek instead of Latin Eastern Rome belonged to the eastern branch of Christianity. -Rome's legal system was also rectified by ten legal experts due to their antiquated ways. This resulted in a body of civil law known as Justinian's Code. This was broken down into 4 works; the Code contained 5,000 laws, the Digest summarized Rome's legal thinkers about law, the Institutes was a book that told law students how to use laws, and the Novellae presented legislation after the year 565AD. -These laws have continued to serve modern day governments with laws in the Civil field.
Creating the Imperial Capital -Justinian rebuilt military fortifications of Constantinople and ringed the coast with a stone wall. -On the inland the city was protected by 3 walls, the innermost being the most well defended. -Justinian also commissioned several religious works including the Hagia Sophia. -He also built many public works like bathhouses, aqueducts, law courts, schools, and hospitals.
Constantinople
-Constantinople was a large trading hub for products all over the world. Including Asia, Europe