The basis of the Byzantine economy was agricultural production. Taxation on landed property was the most important source of income for the imperial treasury. Byzantine emperors were therefore particularly concerned with land distribution and methods of utilization. Large estates dominated in the Early Byzantine period, as they had done during the Late Roman times. These were either imperial or Church lands, municipal or private. Imperial lands in the Early Byzantine period were of two kinds: the emperor's family property (praedia patrimonialia) and imperial possessions (praedia rei privatae). The latter could increase by confiscations of property or decrease through donations to those who enjoyed imperial favour. Imperial landed income was used to meet the costs of administration and diplomacy. The Church became a great landlord. The extent of its property increased rapidly due to gifts of pagan temple property to the Church; various other donations of land; tax exemptions; and the fact that the landed property of the Church could not be sold.

The cities also owned a lot of landed property. Their wealth mostly came from gifts of land, donations and land confiscated from the curiales (bouleutai). The leasing of urban land was a substantial source of income for cities, but the embezzlement involved in leasing lessened the importance of urban lands for the city's income. And these were lost for good in the enemy attacks of the 7th century. There were also large private properties, belonging to high-ranking officials, politicians, military or Church officials. The dominance of large estates, its privileged status and above all the expansionist tendencies of great landlords at the expense of small farmers and the public, all affected the Byzantine economy and society and influenced imperial policy.