Question

what was a reoccurring problem for justinian the great throughout his reign?
the mortality rate was so low that elderly byzantines were a drag on the economy.
he spent far more than he was collecting in taxes.
he had frequent clashes with the patriarch of constantinople.
he did not have a reliable and competent military leader.

Explanation:

Justinian the Great funded large-scale projects (like the Hagia Sophia), costly wars to reconquer former Roman territories, and administrative reforms. His expenditures consistently outpaced tax revenues, leading to financial strain, currency devaluation, and unrest across his reign, making this a recurring issue. The other options are incorrect: mortality rates were high due to the Plague of Justinian, he had relatively good relations with the Patriarch for most of his reign, and he had competent military leaders like Belisarius.

Answer:

He spent far more than he was collecting in taxes.