CHANGES IMPLEMENTED IN BYZANTINE DURING THE REIGN OF EMPEROR JUSTINIAN

Abstract

The history of the Middle Ages occupies an important place in the history of mankind. Among the states that emerged and developed in Europe during this period, the Byzantine Empire went through a unique development path. The empire emerged as a result of the disintegration of the Roman Empire. As a result of the incessant attacks of Germanic tribes, the Western Roman Empire disappeared from the stage of history in the 5^th century AD. The Eastern Roman Empire, known as Byzantium, was able to maintain its existence for more than a thousand years. Its capital was the city of Constantinople. During its existence, Byzantium went through different historical stages. Unlike other feudal states, the rise to power of Emperor Justinian resulted in the return of the empire to the era of slavery, the restoration of Greek culture, and the subordination of the vast majority of the lands of the Roman Empire to a single center. Although various dynasties came to power in the Empire after Justinian, Byzantium was relatively weakened and suffered territorial losses. During the Isaurian, Macedonian, Angelian and Comnenian dynasties, Byzantium experienced some development, and the Empire gradually transitioned to the era of feudalism and reflected the main development features of this era. The Fourth Crusade led to the destruction of Byzantium as a state and the creation of the Latin Empire. The Fourth Crusade led to the creation and development of numerous states on the territory of Byzantium. Although the Palaeologus dynasty, which ruled in Nicaea, was able to save Byzantium from the Crusaders, Byzantium was never able to regain its former power, strength, and grandeur. It was subjected to numerous attacks in the 13^th to the first half of the 15^th centuries and eventually fell.