Imperial Leaders
Which Roman leader made history by becoming the empire's first Christian emperor?
Who was Constantine?
Constantinople was built on a peninsula that connected trade pathways between which two continents?
What are Europe and Asia?
Byzantine mosaics were created primarily for this religious and political purpose.
What is to honor saints and emperors?
Justinian chose not to flee Constantinople during this major uprising because Empress Theodora urged him to stay.
What was the Nika Revolt?
When Byzantine merchants shipped domestic products out to foreign nations, what is this action?
What is export?
When Justinian considered abandoning his throne during a massive riot, who convinced him that staying and fighting was more honorable?
Who was Empress Theodora?
Before Emperor Constantine officially renamed the capital city after himself, what was its original name?
What is Byzantium (or "the New Rome")?
Emperor Justinian built this famous 6th-century church, known for its grand dome.
What is the Hagia Sophia?
In 1071, the Byzantines lost control of Asia Minor—their main source of food and soldiers—after losing which major battle to the Turks?
What was the Battle of Manzikert?
What occurs when the value of money drops, and prices rise because of government overspending?
What is inflation?
The Roman Empire eventually split into two halves; which specific section survived and developed into the Byzantine Empire?
What is the Eastern half?
The primary reason the Byzantine Empire grew so wealthy was its physical location along these.
What are natural trade routes (or crossroads of trade)?
What specific artistic technique involves painting watercolors directly onto fresh, wet plaster walls?
What is a fresco?
The Byzantine Empire ultimately fell due to military attacks from Muslim groups in the East and this group from the West.
Who were Christian Crusaders?
Because the Byzantine government heavily regulated business and trade, its economy achieved this status.
What is being the most stable economy in the world?
Out of all the diverse ethnic groups in the empire, this group made up the largest part of the population.
Who were the Greeks?
If you wanted to visit the site of ancient Constantinople on a modern map, which city would you travel to?
What is Istanbul (in modern-day Turkey)?
If you translate the Greek phrase Hagia Sophia into English, what name do you get?
What is "Holy Wisdom"?
Ships carrying goods like African ivory easily reached Constantinople because its harbor linked Europe, Asia, and which third continent?
What is Africa?
Byzantine scholars helped preserve ancient knowledge by saving and copying these historical writings.
What are the Classics (or ancient Roman and Greek writings)?
Which major legal reform organized centuries of confusing Roman laws into a single system that protected women and children and influenced modern laws?
What is the Justinian Code?
Byzantine civilization was uniquely shaped by a combination of these three major cultures.
What are Greek, Roman, and Christian cultures?
If someone in the 8th century went around breaking and removing religious images from public display, what term would describe them?
What is an iconoclast?
During the 700s and 800s, this major conflict erupted when government leaders ordered the removal or destruction of religious art in churches.
What was the Iconoclastic Controversy?
In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, how would you define an "icon"?
What is a sacred painting or portrait of Christ, Mary, or holy figures?