Why was Justinians code significant?

One aspect of
Justinians Code, which is often forgotten, is that it was significant for women in the Byzantine
Empire. Remember that the societies of the ancient world were largely patriarchal (ruled by
men), and although Justinian did not change this state of being, his code did have an impact the
lives of women living under his rule.

Under Justinians Code, for example, a
woman could not be forced into prostitution, and women who committed adultery were no longer
sentenced to death. In fact, Justinian decreed that no woman should ever be sent to jail because
he was worried that women might be sexually targeted by male prison guards. Instead, all crimes
were punishable by sending a woman to a nunnery.

There were also great
advances for women in other areas. A woman could inherit property, for instance, and claim back
her dowry if her marriage ended in divorce. This gave her financial security as a single
woman.

Much of the impetus for these laws came from the influence
of...