530s

The 530s refer to the decade spanning from January 1, 530, to December 31, 539. This period falls within the broader era of Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages.

In the Eastern Roman Empire, the 530s were largely dominated by the reign of Emperor Justinian I. A significant event was the Nika riots in 532, a major popular uprising in Constantinople that Justinian brutally suppressed. Following this, Justinian initiated extensive building projects, including the reconstruction of the Hagia Sophia, which began in 532 and was consecrated in 537. The decade also saw the early stages of Justinian's ambitious military campaigns to reconquer lost territories of the Western Roman Empire. General Belisarius achieved notable victories in North Africa against the Vandals, culminating in the capture of Carthage in 533. Campaigns in Italy against the Ostrogoths also commenced during this decade.

In Western Europe, the 530s saw the continued development of the successor kingdoms. The Franks, under their kings, were consolidating their power and expanding their territories. The Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy was facing increasing pressure from the Byzantine Empire. Little is known in detail about the specific events of this decade in many parts of the world due to limited surviving historical records.