ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that trivial events reported by chroniclers for the late fifth century are also significant and need to be taken note of for interpreting the sixth century. The chronicle accounts of Leo Choirosphaktes's law are confirmed by an entry in the Justinianic Code, which contains some extra details, but also has a significant omission. The Chronicon Paschale from the early seventh century is virtually identical with John Malalas' version and clearly copied from him, including the ban on music. For Malalas' account of the late fifth century reveals signs of social change, presumably under Christian influence but quite unconnected with theological questions. A reason for displaying the story is that the space it takes up amounts to more than the total space that Malalas devotes to Justinian's wars in the West. This helps emphasize how small a part those wars played in Byzantine sixth-century consciousness.
