All Roads Lead to Rome
The Romans created this durable building material by mixing volcanic ash, lime, and water, enabling them to build massive arches and domes.
What is concrete?
Formerly named Octavian, he became Rome's first official emperor and kicked off the 200-year era known as the Pax Romana.
Who is Augustus?
This Christian apostle traveled extensively across Roman roads and shipping routes to spread the teachings of Jesus to non-Jewish communities.
Who is Paul?
To protect the city's landward side from invaders, Byzantine engineers dug this deep, water-filled trench in front of the outer walls.
What is a moat?
Romans used this label for Germanic tribes and other non-Roman groups whose invasions eventually destabilized the Western Empire.
What are Barbarians?
These massive, bridge-like stone structures were engineered to transport fresh water over long distances into Roman cities.
What are aqueducts?
The Pax Romana came to an end in 180 AD following the death of this famous Stoic philosopher-emperor.
Who is Marcus Aurelius?
Built under Emperor Justinian, this famed "Church of Holy Wisdom" in Constantinople served as the glorious center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
What is the Hagia Sophia?
Constantinople was strategically built along the Bosporus, which is this type of narrow body of water connecting two larger seas.
What is a strait?
While Latin remained the primary language of the Western Roman Empire, this language became dominant in the Byzantine Empire.
This economic crisis occurs when prices rise while the purchasing power of money drastically drops.
What is inflation?
This famous Byzantine ruler reorganized centuries of confusing Roman laws into a unified legal code and rebuilt the Hagia Sophia.
Who is Justinian?
Over three centuries, Christianity transformed from a persecuted underground movement into this official status within the empire.
What is the official state religion?
The Byzantine navy held off enemy fleets using this terrifying chemical weapon that could float and continue burning on water.
What is Greek fire?
Pushed out of Central Asia, this fierce nomadic group led by Attila forced thousands of Germanic tribes to migrate into Roman territory, accelerating the empire's collapse.
Who are the Huns?
Stretched across thousands of miles, this paved infrastructure network allowed Roman legions to march quickly and enabled rapid trade and communication.
What are Roman roads?
Upon their deaths, several prominent Roman emperors underwent this official political and religious process, declaring them to be gods.
What is being deified?
Two Byzantine missionaries developed this written script so that Slavic peoples could read religious texts in their native language.
What is the Cyrillic alphabet?
Surrounding the city on both land and water, these multi-layered fortifications kept Constantinople safe for nearly 1,000 years.
Led by Alaric in 410 AD, this Germanic tribe shocked the world by capturing and looting the city of Rome for the first time in over 800 years.
Who are the Visigoths?
Highly valued in Roman politics and legal affairs, this is the formal practice and art of public speaking.
What is oratory?
As co-ruler and empress of the Byzantine Empire, she advocated for women's legal rights and gave critical political advice during riots.
Who is Empress Theodora?
These brothers were the most famous Eastern Orthodox missionaries, also called the "Apostles to the Slavs."
Who were Cyril and Methodius?
Located on a piece of land surrounded on three sides by water, Constantinople benefited from this natural geographic shape for defense and trade.
What is a peninsula?
The official downfall of the Western Roman Empire occurred in this year when the last emperor was deposed.
What is 476 AD?