Emperor Justinian

Code of Laws

The enlargement of the Eastern Roman Empire's territory between the rise to power of Justinian (red, 527) and his death (orange, 565)

Achievements of the Byzantine Empire

• The Byzantine empire reached its peak under the emperor Justinian, who reigned from 527 to 565 C.E.

• Justinian was an autocrat, a single ruler with complete authority.

• Emperor Justinian is best known for his code of law.

Justinian’s Code of Law

• Emperor Justinian set up a team of scholars to gather and organize the ancient laws of Rome.

• His collection became the “body of civil law” known today as Justinian’s Code.

• His code included Roman laws, legal writings and even a student handbook.

• Later emperors continued to update the code.

Cultural Diffusion

• By the 1100’s, the Justinian Code had reached western Europe,

• where it became the basis of law for both the Roman Catholic Church and medieval rulers.

• Even today, international law is influenced by Justinian’s Code.

Let’s Compare…

• Justinian Code

• All women could own property, make contracts and wills, and bring a lawsuit.

• United States Laws

• All women can own property, make contracts and wills, and bring a lawsuit. Women are guaranteed the same rights as men.

Let’s Compare…

• Justinian Code

• Robbery was not a crime. The victim could sue the robber for up to four times the value of the stolen property.

• United States Law

• Robbery is considered a crime and is punishable by a fine and/or jail time.

Let’s Compare…

• Justinian Code

• People owed something had to sue the person owing them to gain the debt back.

• United States Law

• People owed something had to sue the person owing them to gain the debt back.

Let’s Compare…

• Justinian Code

• Murder was punished by banishment, or being forced out of a country.

• United States Law

• Murder is punished with a prison sentence or with death.

Let’s Compare…

• Justinian Code

• Women could not inherit property from their husbands unless it was provided for in a will. Children received equal amounts of the father’s estate.

• United States Law

• Standard law allows wives and children to divide an estate. Other directions can be provided for in a will.

Using your skills

• Under which law code is murder punished by banishment?

• Justinian Code or United States Law

Using your skills

• How is the treatment of robbery different under the two codes?

• Justinian Code:

• United States Law:

Using your skills

• Compare the rights of women in the two law codes.

• Justinian Code:

• United States Law:

Using your skills

• Why would both sets of laws contain provisions (conditions) about inheritances?

Using your skills

• If these laws are similar, in what other subjects would there also be similarities?

• (hint: trials, Roman Laws, evidence)

Regents Question

• After the fall of Rome, the eastern portion of the Roman empire became known as the

• 1. Persian Empire

• 2. Byzantine Empire

• 3. Mongol Empire

• 4. Gupta Empire