Rise of Byzantine EmpireJustinian

Byzantine Ruler

476 CE Western Roman Empire falls.

Of little consequence to Eastern Empire which was thriving and growing

Unique location: defenses of Constantinople protected it from invasions, along major trades routes, supremacy of Emperor, no single powerful religious ruler like a Pope

Rise of the Byzantine Empire 5th Century

Once of the most successful and powerful of all Roman/Byzantine Emperors

Wanted to regain Italy and North Africa from the Goths and Vandals

Ends up conquering Italy, North Africa, Sicily, Greece, Armenia, Persia and building a new empire

Created the Justinian Code-

Was created as single uniform code

Justinian (527-565 CE)

Corpus Juris Civilis--Codification of law under Justinian, becomes the basis for modern law and Orthodox/Catholic law w

Codex--organized list of Roman law and Byzantine law code

Digests--important responses that set precedents

Institutes--a manual for law students

Novels--compilation of decisions during Justinian’s time

Justinian

Saw himself as both “priest and king”

His growing power in Constantinople puts the Eastern Christian Church in greater conflict with the Western Christian Church

• Justinian’s Building Programs included

• Baths, Aqueducts, law courts, schools, palaces, and hospitals.

Justinian

Great Schism

1054 CE

The Eastern (orthodox Church) and the Western (Catholic Church) break apart