The Byzantine Empire reached its greater size under the emperor Justinian. He ruled the empire from 527 to 565. The empire had a lasting impact on ideas about law and justice. Emperor Justinian, at the Height of his rule, ordered the scholars to make a summary of all existing Roman Laws. Consequently, they produced the so-called “Justinian Code”. The code kept the Roman Legal traditions alive. It also became the primordial source of Roman law in Western Europe.

The Byzantine Empire lasted over 1,000 years. All throughout its existence, the emperor was the law. The daily business of government was administered by a civil service. The empire’s economy and its loyal and well-trained army helped the government survive civil war and invasion.

The economy of the empire was under the complete control of the emperor. It was he who set laborers wages and prices of commodities. He also established monopoly on manufacturing.

Peasants formed the backbone of the empire, working the land, paying taxes and providing soldiers for the military. In the cities of the empire, trade and industry flourished. While Western Europe was reduced to a better economy, The Byzantine Empire preserved a healthy money economy. The Bezant, the Empire’s gold coin stamped with the emperor’s image circulated from England to china.

The city populace mirrored extremes of rich and poor extremes of rich and poor. While the government officials and nobles of the court spent big amount of money on clothing, jewelry and entertainment, the masses struggled for survival.

Christianity was as influential in the Byzantine Empire as it was in Western Europe. However, religious divisions grew between the two regions. The differences resulted from the act of the emperor of controlling church affairs although he was not a priest. He even appointed the patriarch or the highest church official in Constantinople. Further misunderstanding developed when the Byzantine clergy were allowed to marry unlike the priests in Western Europe. The Byzantine church chose Greek over Latin was their official language.