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The Age of Justinian

2. Summarize Why was Justinian’s reform of the law so important? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
3. Draw Inferences Why do you think that the Byzantine empire had a healthy money economy, while in Western Europe the use of money declined? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

User Polster
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Final answer:

Justinian's reform of the law was important as it brought legal uniformity and codification of Roman law. He imposed Roman law on all subjects, creating the Corpus Juris Civilis. The Byzantine empire had a healthy money economy under Justinian due to stability and successful campaigns.

Step-by-step explanation:

Justinian's reform of the law was important because it brought about legal uniformity and codification of Roman law. He imposed Roman law on all his subject peoples, eliminating other forms of law and creating the Corpus Juris Civilis, which formed the basis of legal systems in Europe. Justinian's reform of the law benefited Byzantine society by preserving its connection to the past. The Code of Justinian compiled laws issued since the early second century and regulated imperial edicts, preserving past laws in their original Latin. This maintained Latin as the language of legislation and a symbol of status among the educated class.

One possible reason why the Byzantine empire had a healthy money economy while Western Europe saw a decline in the use of money could be attributed to the stability and prosperity of the Byzantine empire under Justinian's reign. His successful military campaigns allowed for looting, contributing to the empire's wealth and ability to sustain a money economy. In contrast, Western Europe faced recurring Germanic invasions, which destabilized the region and hindered economic development.

User Hasvn
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