: He codified Roman law into the Corpus Juris Civilis , but his reign was also marred by the devastating Plague of Justinian , which decimated the population. III. Survival and Transformation (610–1025 AD)
The empire’s origins lie in the restructuring of the Roman state. A History of Byzantium
: Constantine established a new capital at Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), strategically located on the Bosphorus to control trade between Europe and Asia. : He codified Roman law into the Corpus
: Facing a Crisis of the Third Century , Emperor Diocletian divided the Roman Empire into East and West to make it more governable. : Constantine established a new capital at Constantinople
This era marked the empire’s peak territorial reach and cultural splendor.
: Unlike the pagan Rome of old, Byzantium was defined by its integration of Roman law, Greek culture, and Christian theology.