Byzantine Basics
What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire?
Constantinople
What was the name of the Byzantine emperor we studied?
Justinian
What was the main economic activity?
Agriculture
What event marked the beginning of the Middle Ages in 476 A.D.?
The fall of the Western Roman Empire
What was the Byzantine emperor called
Basileus
What important law code did Justinian establish?
Codex Justinianus
What were large agricultural estates called?
Latifundia
What happened in Western Europe after the Western Roman Empire fell?
Germanic peoples established kingdoms in former Roman lands.
Name TWO groups that put pressure on or attacked the Byzantine Empire.
Muslims, Slavs, Neo-Persians
What major revolt did Theodora help Justinian survive?
The Nika Revolt
Name three important parts of the Byzantine economy
Agriculture, craftwork and trade
Name THREE Germanic peoples we have studied
Any 3: Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Suebi, Franks, Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Burgundians, Alemanni, Thuringii, Lombards
Why was Constantinople important for trade?
Trade routes between Europe, Asia and Africa crossed the empire
What did Justinian try to do with the territory of the old Roman Empire?
Reconquer/reunify former Roman territories
Put these groups from MOST to LEAST powerful: serfs/slaves; artisans/traders/soldiers/free farmers; basileus/high clergy/nobility
Basileus/high clergy/nobility → middle group → serfs/slaves
Match the people to the area: Visigoths – Ostrogoths – Franks. Where did each settle
Visigoths → Iberian Peninsula; Ostrogoths → Italy; Franks → Gaul
Explain ONE reason the Byzantine Empire survived for so long.
city walls, military power, ability to adapt, Greek fire, etc.
Give TWO ways Theodora influenced Justinian's reign.
Role in Nika Revolt + political influence / legal changes affecting women
Why did high taxes sometimes cause revolts?
The population paid high taxes to support officials and the army, creating discontent
Besides the Germanic peoples, name THREE other groups that migrated/invaded parts of Europe during the Early Middle Ages and say where they came from.
Slavs → east/northeast; Magyars → east; Vikings → north; Muslims → south (any 3)