Why was theodora so important to the history of the byzantine empire?

Answer 1

She influenced policies regarding women, including divorce laws and property ownership, and also was a very helpful advisor to Justinian. For example, during the Nika Riots, when the people fought for gambling, homosexuality, and lower taxes, Theodora convinced Justinian to stay and fight, rather than flee and leave the throne behind. He stayed, and the rioters were killed.

Answer 2

Theodora did have a lot of good impacts to the Byzantine Empire, some of which include:

1. The fact that she told Justinian to crush the Nika Rebellion instead of running away.

2. She aided in many of Justinian's choices or decisions.

3. She led to women owning land.

4. She gave a new meaning to the word, "Empress" since she was helping Justinian rule.

4. She gave rights to women.

Answer 3

Theodora saved the reign of her husband, Theodosius the Great. Theodosius and his officials were about to flee Constantinople when the city was in the grip of the Nika riots. Theodora argued that he should make a stand and that it was better to die an emperor than to live in exile and said that "royal purple is noblest shroud." Theodosius sent his two generals to put down the riots mercilessly. Theodosisu's reign was one of the most significant ones in the history of the Byzantine Empire and one which is regarded by historians as an era in his own right.

Theodora's intervention which saved Theodosius' reign in itself had a tremendous impact of the Byzantine Empire as this reign played a big part in shaping the future of this empire and especially in putting its church, the Orthodox Church on a much more solid footing. However, she also made a profound mark through her own policies. She was very close to her husband and one of his most important advisers.

Theodora, championed the cause of women, and through her initiative Justinian enacted laws which forbade forced prostitution, closed brothers and provided protections for prostitutes against exploitation, instituted the death penalty for rape, forbade the killing of a wife who committed adultery, forbade exposure of unwanted babies, gave mothers some guardianship rights over their children, improved women property right and their rights in divorce, established that the dowry of a widow should be returned to her, sanctioned that husbands could not incur major debts without receiving their wives' consent twice, and that women charged with major crimes were be under the guardianship of other women. The purpose of the latter was prevention of sexual abuse.

Theodora and Justinian differed on matters of religion. Justinian supported mainstream Orthodox Christianity, while she supported a dissident doctrines. This created conflict on these matters and Justinian often obstructed Theodora. However, her influence was so strong that when she died, Justinian worked on reconciling the two doctrines and kept his promise to protect the monastery Theodora built as a refuge for the dissident Christians.

Answer 4

Theodora was Justinan's wife, Justinan choose Theodora to be his instructo.r

Answer 5

Her intelligence and political acumen made her Justinian's most trusted adviser and enabled her to use the power and influence to promote religious and social policies.