HIST 2311 Lecture 3: The Post-Classical Era, 500-1000 Questions and Analysis
Document Summary
The post-classical era 2: the roman empire had considerably romanized the mediterranean world (and beyond) during the classical period. It was characterized by being tightly centralized wherein power totally lies in the hands of a highly revered emperor. This vision of society was then materially expressed in the ostentatious build up of a new capital that featured museums, libraries, artistic treasures and magnificent edifices made up of marble. The empire built a capital to portray wealth and power to intimidate its enemies. Justinian was an important emperor who further developed the capitol constantinople and more importantly established a lasting legal and social order by codifying roman law into the justinian code 1. Through his brilliant general belisarius, he was able to re-conquer what was. Western rome but was not able to retain control due to lack of resources. The byzantine empire maintained its size and invincibility in those times.
