Exam 7: The World of Late Antiquity, 284-CA 600

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The term "tetrarchy" refers to a form of government where power is divided among four individuals. The word itself is derived from the Greek words "tetra," meaning four, and "arch," meaning rule. This system was most notably implemented by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in AD 293 as a means to address the vastness and complexity of administering the expansive Roman Empire, as well as to provide a more efficient response to internal and external threats.

Under Diocletian's tetrarchy, the empire was divided into two halves, each ruled by an Augustus (senior emperor). Each Augustus then appointed a junior emperor, known as a Caesar, to rule under them and to succeed them in the event of death or retirement. This created a hierarchy of two Augusti and two Caesars, with each responsible for governing a specific quadrant of the empire. The intention was to ensure a smooth succession and to prevent the power struggles that had plagued the empire in the past.

The tetrarchy did not last long beyond Diocletian's reign. It began to crumble after his retirement in 305, as the system's inherent rivalries and the ambitions of different leaders led to civil wars. Constantine the Great eventually abolished the tetrarchy after he became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire in 324. Despite its short lifespan, the tetrarchy was an innovative attempt to manage the complexities of ruling a large and diverse empire.

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Justinian, often referred to as Justinian I or Justinian the Great, was a Byzantine emperor who reigned from 527 to 565 AD. He is best known for his ambitious project to codify Roman law, resulting in the Corpus Juris Civilis, which laid the foundation for modern civil law systems. This body of law, also known as the Justinian Code, was a collection and organization of existing Roman legal materials that included the Codex Justinianus, the Digesta or Pandectae, the Institutiones, and the Novellae Constitutiones.

Justinian's reign was marked by significant military campaigns aimed at reclaiming parts of the fallen Western Roman Empire, including North Africa, Italy, and parts of Spain. These efforts were led by his general, Belisarius. Despite initial successes, many of these territories were difficult to hold and were eventually lost after Justinian's death.

In addition to his legal and military endeavors, Justinian was also known for his extensive building program across the Byzantine Empire, the most famous of which is the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). This architectural marvel was constructed as a Christian cathedral and is renowned for its massive dome and ornate decorations.

Justinian's reign was also marked by religious and political challenges, including the Nika riots in 532 AD, which nearly cost him his throne, and controversies over Christian doctrine, particularly dealing with the Monophysite heresy, which was a point of contention within the Christian community of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Overall, Justinian's legacy is one of both grand achievement in law and architecture, as well as the controversial and often brutal methods by which he maintained his rule and attempted to restore the glory of the Roman Empire.