C) She worked to enact laws improving the status of women.
Justinian I's wife, Theodora, is remembered and admired for ruling beside him as the Byzantine empress (527-565) who used her political influence to create policies that protected certain rights of women such as laws that prohibited the traffic in young girls and laws regarding divorce that gave more benefits to women. And she promoted the sponsorship and foundation of homes for former prostitutes that sought to reenter society.
Likewise, she also succeeded in ending the persecution against the miaphysites, and helped those most in need through sponsorship of the foundation of many institutions such as orphanages and hospitals.
The wife of Justinian I, Empress Theodora, affected the Byzantine Empire because:
(C) She worked to enact laws improving the status of women
Justinian and Theodora were a famous couple who ruled the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. At that time, Emperor Justinian was so impressed by the qualities and skills of his wife. Because of it, he worked in partnership with her to manage his territory throughout his life. Theodora had a role almost as important as Justinian at the head of the empire. She joined with her husband in the majority of the tasks, and she was respected by the people.
She had a great influence during the writing of the famous Justinian’s Code. This law book created new rights for citizens. It has been a great evolution for the lives of men and women of that time. Theodora inspired her husband to incorporate many of his ideas into his code. She wanted to improve the daily lives of women in general and prostitutes. The example of her intervention was allowed women to have the right to seek a divorce, to have a share in the inheritance, and to be punished less severely after adultery. For the prostitutes, they had the right to receive money and to go to structures to help them change their lives.
Subject: History
Chapter: The Byzantine Empire
Keywords: The history of human rights, feminism, history of the Byzantine Empire, history of women rights
