Byzantine history is broad and long. It can be very intimidating to study at first due to its breath and the complexity. It was an empire that was able to last for generations after the Western Roman Empire fell to barbarians. I am very interested in the Byzantine era for the reason that it was able to survive and thrive. The empire was able to weather the storms that seemed to overwhelm the Western Roman Empire. There are many aspects to the empire that are incredibly interesting to me but the era that catches my eye the most is the era of Justinian and his successors.
Why is the Justinian era my most favorite to study? I think its because Justinian is such an interesting character. He is a man who came up from a lowly background to become a mighty emperor of an empire that dominated the Mediterranean. I am a big fan of stories such as these when people from obscure origins are able to become incredibly powerful individuals.
That being said, Justinian’s story intersects with Theodora’s story as well. She came up from obscure origins as well and became important advisor and ruler behind the throne. There is much to be said about the both of them, they are both incredible characters that one can spend time writing entire books on.
There is also the topic of the reconquests and Justinian’s motivations for it. He wanted to restore the empire to its former glory and that was incredibly huge task for him and the Byzantines. The generals involved with the conquests, Belisarius and Narses are both interesting characters as well and well worth a good study. Procopius’ writings about all these characters during this important era make it very intriguing. It was an age of big personalities and trendsetters and I am very big on eras that are filled with exciting events that influence the passage of history.
There is also this intersection of the Christian religion with the imperial state. The Christians were once outcasts and seen as traitors to the empire. However, now they were in control and I find that to be very intriguing to contrast that with the earlier times of Christianity.
The Byzantine Empire in the 6th century is an interesting beast all together. It is a survivor and is also able to show strength to its rivals. That is why it is so interesting to study. In these uncertain times, the Byzantine empire during Justinian shows what people can do if they are able to focus their energies. The Western Roman Empire was unable to do this, and its energies were all too dispersed around with defensive actions. The Eastern Romans were are able to hold their ground and take more territory.
What era is your favorite to study?
Byzantine-Empire.com 