The+Foundation+of+Byzantium+&+The+achievements+of+Justinian+(p.194-198)

-500-1450 C.E, maintained high levels of political, economic, and cultural activity -empire began when Romans set up their eastern capital in Constantinople -Emperor Constantine built a host of elegant buildings, including Christian churches -peasants live on agricultural base / solid tax by emperor -Constantinople was responsible for the Balkan Peninsula, the northern Middle East, the Mediterranean coast, and North Africa -Latin was the court language, but Emperor Justinian made Greek the official language as well in the 6th century -political structure was a complex administration around a remote emperor, who was surrounded by elaborate ceremonies
 * __ Byzantine Empire __**
 * Latin became an inferior afterwards

-took power in 533 C.E, tried to reconquer western territory in effort to restore an empire like Rome -heavily influenced by wife, Theodora, who was eager for power and pushed plans for expansion -rebuilt Constantinople , extend later Roman architecture , invented domes to earlier classical styles and many new structures -built most inspiring new church, the Hagia Sophia , which became one of the wonders of the Christian world -codification of Roman laws that united and organized the new empire, also paralleling the state's bureaucracy (after updated by later emperors, the codes helped spread Roman legal principles to many parts of Europe ) -with the help of Belisarius , a brilliant general, empire gained territories in north Africa and Italy, but these territories were short-lived -westward ambitions weakened resulted in attacks by Persian forces and Slavic groups / these wars created new tax pressures on the gov't and forced Justinian  to exertions that caused his death in 565 C.E
 * __ Justinian's Achievements __**