In the sixth century CE, a single emperor set out to reclaim the glory of ancient Rome and reunite the fractured Mediterranean world. Justinian I, born of humble Illyrian stock, rose to become the most ambitious ruler of the Byzantine Empire. From his capital at Constantinople, he launched campaigns to reconquer Italy, North Africa, and parts of Spain—restoring Roman rule to the western Mediterranean for a fleeting moment. Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the triumphs and tragedies of Justinian's reign: the grand building projects like the Hagia Sophia, the brutal suppression of the Nika riots, the codification of Roman law in the Corpus Juris Civilis, and the devastating Plague of Justinian that wiped out a third of the population. They explore his partnership with the formidable Empress Theodora—a former actress who wielded real power—and his reliance on brilliant generals Belisarius and Narses. The show also delves into the theological conflicts that consumed the empire, from Monophysite controversies to the Three-Chapter Controversy, and the cultural flowering of the age, including the work of historian Procopius, whose secret history painted a scathing portrait of the imperial court. Why does Justinian matter today? His legal code became the foundation of Western law; his architectural legacy still stands; and his doomed dream of a universal Roman empire haunts the European imagination. Join Lucas and Luna as they unravel how one man's obsession nearly rebuilt Rome—and nearly destroyed his own world.

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