527–565 CEReputable sourceWell documented
Justinian I and the Dream of Rome Restored
On the timeline · around 527–565 CE ·
What happened
The emperor Justinian I came to the throne in 527 determined to restore the Roman Empire to its ancient glory. In a reign of nearly forty years he launched wars to reconquer the lost West, rebuilt Constantinople in splendour, and reformed the empire's law and administration — the last great flourishing of the ancient Roman world.
Why it matters
Justinian's ambition briefly made the Mediterranean a Roman lake again and left monuments of law and architecture that outlasted the empire itself. But his wars and a catastrophic plague overstretched the state, and much of what he won was soon lost.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Justinian I · Reputable source