 Justinian 's ambition to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory was only partly realized . In the West , the brilliant early military successes of the 530s were followed by years of stagnation . The dragging war with the Goths was a disaster for Italy , even though its long @-@ lasting effects may have been less severe than is sometimes thought . The heavy taxes that the administration imposed upon its population were deeply resented . While the final victory in Italy and the conquest of the coast of southern Hispania significantly enlarged the area over which the Empire could project its power and influence , and while they must have contributed to the Empire 's prestige , most of the conquests proved ephemeral . The greater part of Italy would be lost to the invading Lombards three years after Justinian 's death ( 568 ) , the newly founded province of Spania was completely recovered by the <unk> Visigoths in 624 under the leadership of <unk> , and within a century and a half Africa would be forever lost for the empire to the Rashidun and Umayyad <unk> during the Muslim conquests . 
