Justinian's Code and Its Impact

The video discusses the Code of Justinian, a significant legal reform in the Byzantine Empire. It addresses the issues with Roman laws and how Justinian aimed to unify them into a cohesive system. The Code consists of four main books: Codex Constantonum, Institutones, Novels, and Digesta. These books were crucial in shaping Byzantine law for a thousand years and influenced Western legal systems. The video highlights the transition from Latin to Greek in the Byzantine Empire and the Code's role as a forebearer of Western law.

What was one of Justinian's major achievements discussed in the video?

• The expansion of the Byzantine Empire

• The Code of Justinian

• The defeat of the Vandals

• The construction of the Hagia Sophia

Why were Roman laws considered confusing before Justinian's reforms?

• They were only accessible to the elite

• They were contradictory and unclear

• They were written in multiple languages

• They were based on outdated principles

What was the purpose of the Codex Constantonum?

• To serve as a textbook for law students

• To provide a revised set of laws in Greek

• To compile old Roman laws and constitutions

• To offer excerpts from Roman jurists

Which book of Justinian's Code was written in Greek?

• Codex Constantonum

• Institutones

• Novelle Constitutnes Positum

• Digesta

Who were the authors of the Digesta?

• Greek philosophers

• 16 Roman lawyers

• Byzantine scholars

• Roman emperors

For how long did Justinian's Code serve as the basis of Byzantine law?

• 1500 years

• 2000 years

• 1000 years

• 500 years

How did the language of Justinian's Code affect its influence in Europe?

• It was translated into multiple languages

• It was accessible to scholars across Europe

• It was only understood by the elite

• It was primarily used in the Eastern Roman Empire

What role did Justinian's Code play in Western legal systems?

• It was replaced by English common law

• It laid the groundwork for future laws

• It was ignored by Western scholars

• It was only used in religious contexts

What does the term 'forebearer' mean in the context of Justinian's Code?

• A law that is outdated

• A set of rules for religious practices

• A law that is difficult to understand

• A precursor to future developments

Why is Justinian's Code considered significant in the context of Western law?

• It was primarily a religious document

• It was the only legal code used in Europe

• It influenced the development of Western legal systems

• It was the first legal code ever written