Historian Peter Sarris discusses the conniving and ruthless Emperor Justinian, his rise to power, surviving riots and plots in Constantinople, his significant legal reforms, military strategies, challenges faced like the Bubonic Plague, and his lasting legacy on Roman law and society.

Professor Peter Sarris, an expert historian on Emperor Justinian and his legacy, discusses Justinian's limitations and challenges, contrasting perspectives on the plague, Justinian's origins and understanding of Roman identity, his approach to intervention and military success.