What was the reign of Justinian I like in the Byzantine Empire?

The reign of Justinian I from 527 to 565 was marked by ambitious military expansion that restored parts of the former Western Roman Empire, including North Africa and Italy. His rule also saw a major cultural blossoming, highlighted by monumental building projects like the Hagia Sophia and the uniform rewriting of Roman law into the Corpus Juris Civilis. However, his tenure faced internal religious conflicts and heavy strains caused by his extensive western campaigns.

What we know

Under Justinian I, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest territorial extent since the fall of the Western Roman Empire, reincorporating North Africa, southern Spain, Italy, and southern Illyria. [3]
Justinian oversaw the uniform rewriting of Roman law known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, which remains the basis of civil law in many modern states. [5]
His grand building program included the construction of architectural masterpieces such as the Hagia Sophia. [4, 5]
His reign was troubled by ongoing religious conflicts between Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Christians. [5]

Where to go next

Sources

[1]Justinian II (Wikidata Q42021) · CC0 1.0
[2]Justinian II · CC BY-SA 4.0
[3]Byzantine Empire under the Justinian dynasty · CC BY-SA 4.0
[4]Theodora (wife of Justinian I) · CC BY-SA 4.0
[5]Justinian I · CC BY-SA 4.0