Theodora; Empress of the Byzantine EmpireShae PughMarch 28, 2014Shae PughMr. Michael ThenstedHistory 1163, 40April 28, 2014Empress Theodora of the Byzantine EmpireTheodora was the empress of the Byzantine Empire. She was married to Justinian. Both had similar ideas about how to rule an empire. But what is his past? What do we know about Theodora? What was the Byzantine Empire? After learning about this empire and the empress, I am very interested in learning more about this unique ruler. Her past and her views on women's rights are truly extraordinary traits of an empress at this time in history. As Rome was sacked by Germanics and other barbarian groups, imperial power shifted to the eastern part of the Roman Empire, where the city center was Byzantium (Craig/Graham/Kagan/Ozment /Turner, 354, 2009). Between 324 and 330 BC, Constantine the Great became emperor and rebuilt the city and renamed it after him (Craig/Graham/Kagan/Ozment/Turner, 354, 2009). After Constantine's death, power passed to Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora in 527 BCE (Craig/Graham/Kagan/Ozment /Turner, 354, 2009). Theodora's story begins with a distinctive beginning. Her father was a bear trainer who worked at the Hippodrome of Constantinople and she grew up in the entertainment spotlight (Craig/Graham/Kagan/Ozment /Turner, 355, 2009). She was a mime and became an actress when she grew up (Koeller, 1996). So, not only did she live in a circus, but she also became a child star. Who wouldn't want their childhood? But, in those days, acting was not a very popular career for a woman, so the term "actress" was exchanged for "prostitute" (Koeller, 1996). So, it may not have been the best… half of the article… Christians and the Monophysites (Koeller, 1996). Even though Theodora died, the power she gave to the women of the Byzantine Empire will live on forever. Empress Theodora is a truly inspiring woman. I knew from the lectures in my World Civilization I course that she empowered Byzantine women, but I had no idea how much she did for them. From a humble childhood working in a circus to becoming a strong empress of an entire empire, Theodora has never forgotten her origins. She used her past as a tool to help women who were in the positions she once was. The splendid churches he built, the beneficial laws passed during his reign, and the numerous decrees he passed emphatically influenced the people of Constantinople and the entire empire. Not only women, but all citizens of the Byzantine Empire were positively affected by Empress Theodora