 In Justinian 's reign , and partly under his patronage , Byzantine culture produced noteworthy historians , including Procopius and Agathias , and poets such as Paul the Silentiary and Romanus the Melodist flourished . On the other hand , centres of learning as the Platonic Academy in Athens and the famous Law School of Beirut lost their importance during his reign . Despite Justinian 's passion for the glorious Roman past , the practice of choosing Roman consul was allowed to lapse after 541 . 
