Justinian code

1.  the collections of laws and legal notes under the sponsor of the Byzantine emperor 
2. "Body of Civil Law") is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in the Eastern Roman Emperor.

Theodora

Theodora was one of the first Empress to recognize the rights of women, passing strict laws to prohibit the trafficking in younger women and girls and altering the divorce laws to give greater benefits to women.

She believed jobs should be given based on ability and not social class.

Theodora

Theodora was born c. 497 CE—died June 28, 548, 

 the daughter of a bear-keeper called Akakios who worked for the Hippodrome 

Theodora earned her living, like her mother before her, as an actress, which meant performing in the Hippodrome as an acrobat or a dancer

Theodora’s early life gave her a prospective of what life was like for ordinary citizens.  Her husband also came from a poor family just like herself.

Hippodrome

The first Hippodrome was built when the city was called Byzantium. the Emperor Septimius Severus built the hippodrome, an arena for chariot races and other entertainment emperor Constantine I rebuilt the walls of the hippodrome in the 4th century CE.