Justinian, Theodora, and Constantinople

Life in the Byzantine Empire

Justinian,Theodora & Architecture

Justinian

• Emperor of Byzantine Empire in 527 CE/AD

• Ruled for almost 40 years

• Responsible for significant political, social & architectural achievements

Politics under Justinian

• Justinian wanted to expand & conquer new lands , especially North African Coast

• After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Justinian reconquered parts of the Western Roman Empire w/ navy & army

Politics under Justinian

• Wanted to make life better in the Empire

• Tried to end corrupt practices within gov't (ppl buying their way into power) . . .

• . . . did not totally work, almost led to him being overthrown

• Made life better in other ways

The Code of Justinian

• A collection of all Roman laws, past & present

• consisted of older Roman Laws & modern Byzantine Laws

• Made a legal textbook to help educate the current and future legal minds in the empire

The Code of Justinian

• The Code of Justinian serves as the foundation or model of most modern laws or legal codes today!

Open Ended

Do you think it is important for older laws to still be in use in modern times? Why or why not?

Please pay attention to the video, there will be a question about it!

• https://youtu.be/kgU1ytmLq8U

Open Ended

Identify 1 thing you learned, found interesting or surprised you from the video:

Theodora

• An actress from the slums of Constantinople, daughter of a bear trainer

• Was one of Justinian's most trusted advisors

• Super smart & politically savvy

Multiple Choice

Justinian's wife, trusted advisor and early Women's Rights advocate:

• Tessa

• Theresa

• Theodora

Theodora

• Early advocate for Women's rights

• encouraged Justinian to change laws to protect women

• Tried to change the mindset that women were lesser members of society

• Helped make changes in the legal code that benefit women

Theodora

• Women gained more access to divorce

• Actresses could leave their jobs at will, in this time actresses were viewed as the lowest of the low in society

• A wife's dowry was returned after the death of their husband

• Dowry = property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

Multiple Choice

Did women's rights get better or worse under the rule of Justinian?

• Better

• Worse

Architectural Achievements

The Hagia Sophia

• In 532 CE/AD Justinian wants a more grand & impressive church, orders construction of a new (3rd) Hagia Sophia

• Famous Greek Orthodox Basilica for a Church and not a public building

• Still stands today

The Hagia Sophia

• Justinian wanted the H-S to incorporate something from all over the empire

• Marble from Turkey, Brick from North Africa

The Hagia Sophia

• Served as the central church of the Greek Orthodox religion

• The place where new emperors were crowned

Hagia Sophia

https://youtu.be/KRPp3jzv1Tw

Please pay attention to the video, there will be a question over it!

Open Ended

In your own words, what makes the Hagia Sophia such an important piece of architecture?