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3. The Age of Justinian:

HIST 302 Spring 2012

Tremissis of

Zeno’s Henoticon, “Act of Union” (482)

Mediate opposing views of the “nature of Christ” • Chalcedonian • Miaphysite

Emperor Justinian (482-565)

Latin-speaking village in Balkans

500 Uncle Justin arrives in as a barefoot, illiterate peasant. • adopted Justinian and brought him to Constantinople

518 Emperor Anastasius dies • Justin made Emperor

521 Justinian made Patrician • Marries Theodora

527 Co-emperor, then Emperor

Sources:

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“Age of Justinian”

“The 4 Rs” • Redacts and compiles Roman legal code • Rebuilds the Capital – Hagia Sophia • Reconquers the Western Mediterranean – San Vitale • Requires Religious Uniformity – Chalcedon His reign marks end of the Antiquity, beginning of Medieval Byzantium

Corpus iuris civilis

• Codex Justinianus – Easter 529 – Made old laws resonate new Christian realities • Digest – 2000 jurists, imperial edicts – Hadrian • Institutes – Key court case for learning law

Law creation shifts from jurists Page from Codex Justinianus and senators to the Emperor Nuremberg, Germany (1488)

(525-531) Wars with Sasanian Dynasty

531 Belisarius repels Persians

Death of Kavadh

532-540 “Eternal Peace” Justinian pulls all troops out of the East

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Nika Revolt (532)

http://www.youtube.com/user/souliot#p/a/u/ 0/AjrnvDn2tcA nika means victory in Greek Political-spectator parties, Blues and Greens, revolt against Justinian

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http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=usp6GLrzdws

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Form of Hagia Sophia

“Domed basilica”

Linear plan— traditional basilica

Effect: light-filled open space

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535 534 554 550

533

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Belisarius triumphs in Constantinople

And when he came before the emperor's seat, they stripped off the purple garment, and compelled him to fall prone on the ground and do obeisance to the Emperor Justinian. This also Belisarius did, as being a suppliant of the emperor along with him. • Procopius, Wars 4.9

Barberini Ivory on display at the .

535 534 554 550

533

Byzantine Capital of Italy • San Vitale,

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Byzantine Mosaics • „ Roman stones set in floor • Byzantine was glass set in walls and ceilings • „ heavy use of gold tesserae • „ Spiritualized (impressionistic) representation – note eyes, lack of dimensionality • „ Imperial figures portrayed with saintly iconography • ‰ Justinian and Theodora’s assimilation to Christ at S. Vitale – Christ Pantokrator—the ultimate emperor

Uniformity of Christian Doctrine

• Chalcedon (451) Justinian takes staunch Chalcedonian position 529 Academy in closed 532-3 Public debates on the “nature of Christ” 543 Three Chapters Controversy 553 Council of Constantinople Fissure between Eastern Orthodoxy and Papacy

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“Innovation” Framed as “Restoration”

• Reformed Legal Code – Subtle change with Christian influence • Rebuilt Constantinople – New arch. Techniques (dome) • Reconquered Western Mediterranean • Required Doctrinal Uniformity

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