Justinian
...; the beginning of Western Europe's unique position within the civilizations of the Old World; and made possible the spread of Islam and the rise of the Franks. At the time when Justinian became emperor of the eastern Roman empire Barbaric tribes of central Europe had conquered most of the western Roman empire. Justinian spent more than 20 years in driving the Vandals, Huns, and Franks from Italy and North Africa. He restored most of the empire to Roman control. Of more lasting importance was his 'Corpus Juris Civilis' a legal code that became the foundation of law in most western European countries. Justinian made war on heretics and he closed the Athenian schools of philosophy because he believed that they taught paganism. He built the famous Church of Hagia Sophia at Constantinople. The most enduring work of Justinian was his codification of the laws. This, too, was an important part of his general scheme. This codification was Justinian's great work. He made many new laws himself, but his enduring merit is rather the classification of scattered older laws. The world owes gratitude to the Justinian for his contribution to the legislation for a number of reasons. First, a commission of ten lawyers reduced the bulky and rambling Theodosian Code, inserting into it the laws made since it was writt...