DBQ: Byzantine Empire Under Justinian
Emperor Justinian revived the Byzantine Empire through his military triumphs, leader characteristics, and ecclesiastic polity and architectural activity. Justinian was the sixth century emperor, and the only one who established an aristocracy by choosing men of humble birth as his closest advisors; for he wanted to work with honest and true people. His inner craving caused him to aggressively expand the empire and restore the Byzantine Empire the prosperity comparable to the original Roman Empire. His leader characteristics lead him to become a powerful and driven emperor. As well as his ecclesiastic polity and architectural activity which gave the empire the opportunity to expand and have advanced works that astonish one to this day.
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Justinian’s conquests expanded Byzantine to expand the empire all across the Mediterranean. In document 6, his armies invaded the Vandal, Ostrogoth, and Visigoth kingdoms in turn, and, in a series of very bitter wars, he reconquered much of the Mediterranean lands in the West; this was a reconquest on Justinian’s behalf. This reconquest affected the empire in negative ways, it caused for the empire to experience revolts of the trogoths under totilla and a costly protracted force. His forces weren’t designed for bringing down revolts, but fighting conventional battles instead. This caused revolts and a very costly fight. In document 1, Justinian’s campaigns extended territory to its largest size ever for the Byzantine Empire. Justinian also created many new cities to revive Byzantine, Justinian made many contributions towards the expansion of the Byzantine Empire such as developing countless cities. These countless cities attracted others and gave the Empire the opportunity to expand its grounds. I know from outside knowledge that not only did Justinian establish new cities, but reestablished order through the control of laws (Code of Justinian) and of the religion by their discrepancies with great firmness; this organized the empire.
Justinian was able to be an organized successful leader through his personality traits. In document 2, Justinian is described as a crafty,
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hypocritical, two-faced liar.These traits were harsh, but allowed him to have the firmness any good leader needs. Through his hypocritical lying actions, Justinian was able to organize an empire and rebuild the city, every leader had their own methods for a successful Empire. In this case, Justinian’s harsh actions were one of his methods towards the success he established. Document 3 explains that Justinian’s power is as great and all mighty as God himself. That though...
