Dig Into History

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was also the economic hub of the ancient world.

The Byzantines controlled much of the trade

throughout the Mediterranean world. They

produced hardware and textiles, in addition to

luxury goods, including silk. Huge ships

transported grain for its citizens and for export

(see above). Such wealth allowed Constantinople

to pay off would-be invaders and to finance a

strong military, social services, and the arts.

This Golden Age’s best-known emperor,

Justinian I, ascended the throne in 527C.E.

Hoping to revive Rome’s ancient glory, Justinian

recaptured the northern coast of Africa, Italy,

southern Spain, and much of southeastern

Europe. All these lands had once been under

Roman control. Justinian also constructed dams,

roads, and bridges to facilitate trade,

communications, and military movements. He

fortified borders, restored cities leveled by warfare

and earthquakes, built new churches, and

installed huge granaries and underground

The Byzantine capital, Constantinople, was
strategically located at the crossroads of Europe,
Asia, and Africa. The emperor Constantine built
Constantinople into a vibrant city that included
strong defensive walls, public buildings, schools,
and a grand palace. He also introduced a stable
government and a monetary system that was
used empire-wide, making it adaptable enough
for trade. Both innovations encouraged economic
growth, and Constantinople soon became a center
for trade, arts, and culture.
Constantine was the empire’s first Christian
emperor. As such, he paved the way for
Christianity to become the empire’s dominant
religion (see pages 10–13). He also ordered many
churches built throughout the empire, including
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The First Golden Age: 518-565 C.E.
Constantinople was now the world’s most
populated city with about 450,000 inhabitants. It

This Byzantine

mosaic of a ship,

with its sail filled

with wind, dates to

the mid-500s Ƌƍ