The Byzantine Empire Begins
What name do historians give to the eastern half of the Roman Empire that continued after the West fell?
Answer: The Byzantine Empire
What type of thrilling sporting event drew huge crowds to the Hippodrome?
Answer: Chariot races
What name is given to the organized collection of Roman laws created under Emperor Justinian?
Answer: Justinian’s Code
In the Byzantine Empire, who had authority over the church as well as the government?
Answer: The emperor
What policy banned religious images because leaders feared people were worshipping them instead of God?
Answer: Iconoclasm
Which city served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire and was once called Byzantium?
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Answer: Constantinople
Two rival groups created excitement and sometimes violence during events at the Hippodrome. What were these groups called?
Answer: The Blues and the Greens
Which famous church built by Justinian became one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Byzantine Empire?
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Answer: Hagia Sophia
What is the name of the main worship service in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
Answer: The Divine Liturgy
Which Byzantine emperor introduced the policy of iconoclasm?
Answer: Leo III
The Roman Empire was divided so that two rulers governed different halves. What were those two regions?
Answer: The Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire
Why did many unemployed people remain in Constantinople rather than leaving the city?
Answer: The government provided them with free bread and entertainment.
What violent uprising destroyed much of Constantinople and led Justinian to rebuild large parts of the city?
Answer: The Nika Riots (Blues and Greens)
Unlike Roman Catholic services during the Middle Ages, in what language could the Divine Liturgy sometimes be conducted?
Answer: The local language
Why were Byzantines upset when the pope crowned Charlemagne as emperor?
Answer: They believed the Byzantine ruler was the rightful Roman emperor.
About how long did the Roman Empire operate with governments in both the East and West before the Western Empire collapsed?
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Answer: About 200 years
The Hippodrome was more than a stadium. What important role did it sometimes play in Byzantine politics?
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Answer: It was a place where crowds expressed political opinions and protests.
Justinian attempted to restore the power of Rome by doing what with former Roman territories?
Answer: Reconquering them
What writing system created by Saint Cyril helped spread Christianity among Slavic peoples?
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Answer: The Cyrillic alphabet
What major religious event in 1054 permanently divided Christianity in Europe?
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Answer: The Great Schism
What major advantage helped Constantinople become a powerful trading center between Europe and Asia?
Answer: Its strategic location between major trade routes
Imagine you were a merchant traveling between Asia and Europe. Why would Constantinople be an ideal city for trade?
Answer: It sat at the crossroads of major land and sea trade routes.
Why is Justinian’s Code still historically important today?
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Answer: It influenced many modern legal systems.
What title used in Orthodox church art means “Christ the Ruler of All”?
Answer: Christ the Pantocrator
When the pope and patriarch excommunicated each other's followers, what long-lasting religious division resulted?
Answer: The split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.