Justinian I
Last Updated 12/1/2007      11/29/2007

Justinian
Constantine's son ruled after he died. 
Then came a general named Julian. 521, Justinian appointed Counsel.
527, Justinian, a Macedonian, was emperor.
He was the greatest Byzantine emperor.
he had been a general in the army.
He was trained in law, music, architecture, and theology.
He chose people for ability rather the wealth or social status.
People who came near him had to bow down and kiss his hands and feet.

Responsibilities
Controlled the army and navy.
Made the laws.
Headed the church and the government.
He was the supreme judge.
He could declare war or make peace.



Theodora
Theodora was an actress.
There was a law that actresss could not marry high government officials.
After Justinian became emperor, he abolished the law.
She entertained guests and attended ceremonies.
Convinced Justinian to allow women to own land equal to her dowry.
Widow could raise her children without government interference.
532, senators had organized a revolt.
Justinian was urged to leave.
Theodora convinced her husband to fight.
The rebels were trapped, and 30,000 were killed.

Plague
This outbreak may have originated in Ethiopia or Egypt.
It moved northward until it reached the large city of Constantinople.
542 May, palgue strikes Constantinople.
It lasted four months.
Disease killed 10,000 people a day.
By the end of the summer, 300,000 people had died.
Justinian survived the plague.

Law and Public Works
Justinian Code organized and rewrote the laws.
It was a summary of Roman law.
He built churches, bridges, monasteries, and forums.
Built a sytem of forts connected by  a network of road.
He rebuit Antioch when it was destroyed by an eathquake.



Hagia Sophia
Greatest accomplishment was the church Hagia Sophia, "Holy Wisdom."
It was the religious center of the Byzantine Empire.
It had a gold altar and marble walls.
Gold and silver ornaments and mosaics decorated the church.
A huge dome was the central part.
Later callled St Sophia.
It is the 4th largest cathedral in the world.
102 feet in diameter, stands 184 feet high.
40 arching windows flood interir with light.

Conquest
Justinian wanted to reunite the eastern and western parts of the empire.
To do this he needed to conquer the German Kingdoms.
Appointed Belisarius to reorganize and lead the army.
Set up a heavily armed calvalry unit.
Navy was improved.
They used Greek Fire that burned when in contact with water.
The formula is still not known.
Controlled Mediterranean Sea.
Won back much of Italy and North Africa.

Bibliography
"Constantinople." Wikkipedia. 27 Nov. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople.

Evans, James Allen. "Theodora (Wife of Justinian)." An Online Ebcyclopedua of Roman Emperors. 25 July 1998.  1 Dec. 2007 http://www.roman-emperors.org/dora.htm.

Greenblatt, Miriam, and Lemmo, Peter. Human Heritage A World History. Columbus, Ohio: McGraw-Hill, 2001.

"Haiga Sofia." Wikkipedia. 1 Dec. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia.