Justinian and Theodora

Justinian and Theodora

1. The World of Justinian and Theodora

   • dates
     • 525
       • Justinian and Theodora marry 
     • 527
       • justinian becomes emperor
     • 532
       • Nikta riots Justinian begins rebuilding of Hagia Sophia 
     • 533-34
       • Justinian makes war on the Vandals in N.Africa 
     • 535
       • Justinian invades italy 
       • 536
         • rome is re-taken 
     • 548
       • theodora dies 
       • 565
         • Justinian dies 
     • 529
       • Justinianic code 
   • sources on justinian
     • positive
       • Paul the Silentary
       • pre-amble to justinians law code
       • barbarinin ivory
     • negative
       • procopius
         • 3 works
           • 1. wars 2. works 3. annecdota 
         • historical annalysis of Procpius
           • Averil Cameron
             • each work is in a different style, Procopius is flexing his literary skill therefore annecdota is not Procopius' actually thoughts 
           • Anthony Kaldellis
             • each work when decoded is a devastating chriticism of Justinian by the leader of lay elite who are increasingly disadvataged at court by its christianisation 
   • source on theodora
     • Diosocras letter of appeal

2. greeco roman identity

   • a fusion of greek traditions and roman politics
   • east romans essentially thought of themselves as roman
     • and were thought of as roman by those outside empire
     • elite in east saw selves as renovation of ancient glory
       • constantinople as 'new rome'
   • romaoio - greek/roman
   • eastern primary sources emphasise continuity with the past