Final answer:
Justinian enhanced the Byzantine economy by backing the construction of churches like the Hagia Sophia to solidify cultural dominance and by smuggling silkworms from China to start a profitable silk industry, consolidating the empire's wealth and economic position.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Did Justinian Increase the Byzantine Economy and Wealth?
Emperor Justinian worked to increase the Byzantine economy and wealth primarily through two significant means:
- He supported the construction of numerous churches in Constantinople, with the Hagia Sophia being the most notable, thereby reinforcing the religious and cultural supremacy of the empire which also served to define its political authority and stability.
- Under his reign, silkworms were smuggled out of China around the year 550, enabling Constantinople to become a hub for the European silk industry. This was an imperial monopoly which generated considerable wealth for the empire.
This robust imperial monopoly on silk not only boosted the economy of the Byzantine Empire but also its prominence in international trade, placing it firmly on the map as a cultural and economic powerhouse during Justinian's reign.