The Justinianic period refers to a period of roughly 40 years during the 6th century CE (527-565 CE), when Justinian I was the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, emperor.
During his reign, Justinian was determined to reconquer the Western half of the Roman empire. He launched successful campaigns against the Vandals to the South, the Ostrogoths to the West, and engaged with the Sassanid empire to the East.
During his reign, Justinian produced a collection of writings on civil law, the Corpus Juris Civilis, which formed the basis of law in the Eastern Roman empire until its dissolution in the 15th century. It also greatly influenced Medieval law generally, and some modern legal codes, like that of Modern Greece.
Justinian built many things during his reign, and some consider his time an especially booming one for Byzantine culture. His most notable build is the Hagia Sophia, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey, which he constructed in 537 CE. This church had the largest dome at the time of its construction, and is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture.
- What do you think are some of the potential issues citizens living during Justinian’s reign faced?
- Can you think of any consequences of Justinian’s military expansion, both good and bad?
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Plague Paths: The Archaeology of the Justinianic Plague Online 