1. Why was Theodora such a big influence on her husband? 2. What made the Byzantine army more powerful than the Western Roman Army?

Little is known of Theodora’s early life, but a combination of the official version with that found in the highly coloured Secret History of Procopius of Caesarea probably provides the best explanation. Her father, Acacius, was a bear keeper at the Hippodrome (circus) in Constantinople. Procopius says that she became an actress and prostitute while still young, leading an unconventional life that included giving birth to at least one child out of wedlock. For a time, she made her living as a wool spinner. When Justinian met her, she had been converted to miaphysitism, a non orthodox doctrine. Attracted by her beauty and intelligence, he made her his mistress and married her in 525. Her disreputable background meant that prior to the marriage, special legislation had to be passed legalizing unions between actresses and men of senatorial rank or higher. When Justinian succeeded to the throne in 527, she was proclaimed augusta.

Explanation:

take five to 10 minutes to warm up and cool down properly.

plan to start slowly and boost your activity level gradually unless you are already exercising frequently and vigorously.

be aware that training too hard or too often can cause overuse injuries like stress fractures, stiff or sore joints and muscles, and inflamed tendons and ligaments. sports prompting repetitive wear and tear on certain parts of your body — such as swimming (shoulders), jogging (knees, ankles, and feet), tennis (elbows) — are often overuse culprits, too. a mix of different kinds of activities and sufficient rest is safer.

listen to your body. hold off on exercise when you're sick or feeling very fatigued. cut back if you cannot finish an exercise session, feel faint after exercise or fatigued during the day, or suffer persistent aches and pains in joints after exercising.

if you stop exercising for a while, drop back to a lower level of exercise initially. if you're doing strength training, for example, lift lighter weights or do fewer reps or sets.

for most people, simply drinking plenty of water is sufficient. but if you're working out especially hard or doing a marathon or triathlon, choose drinks that replace fluids plus essential electrolytes.

choose clothes and shoes designed for your type of exercise. replace shoes every six months as cushioning wears out.

for strength training, good form is essential. initially use no weight, or very light weights, when learning the exercises. never sacrifice good form by hurrying to finish reps or sets, or struggling to lift heavier weights.

exercising vigorously in hot, humid conditions can lead to serious overheating and dehydration. slow your pace when the temperature rises above 70°f. on days when the thermometer is expected to reach 80°f, exercise during cooler morning or evening hours or at an air-conditioned gym. watch for signs of overheating, such as headache, dizziness, nausea, faintness, cramps, or palpitations.

dress properly for cold-weather workouts to avoid hypothermia. depending on the temperature, wear layers you can peel off as you warm up. don't forget gloves.