Similarities with the Roman Empire
What was the official language of the Byzantine Empire?
Latin
Who was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 527 to 565 CE?
Justinian
What was the Justinian Law Code?
A consolidation of Roman laws into a single law code.
What type of building projects did Emperor Justinian oversee during his reign?
Large building campaigns
What is the name of the famous church built by Emperor Justinian in Constantinople in 537 AD?
Hagia Sophia
Which city in the Byzantine Empire was the center of learning, with schools teaching philosophy, medicine, and grammar?
Constantinople
What was one of the main goals of Emperor Justinian during his reign?
To revive the Roman Empire’s greatness
Name one area of life that the Justinian Law Code helped establish laws for.
Criminal justice, marriage, property, slavery, or women’s rights
What is one type of infrastructure built by Justinian during his reign?
Bath complexes or aqueducts
What was the Hagia Sophia’s role in the Byzantine Empire?
It was the main cathedral and the seat of the Patriarch.
What type of architecture did the Byzantine Empire share with the Roman Empire?
Roman-style architecture
What kind of military campaigns did Emperor Justinian lead?
Aggressive military campaigns to re-conquer western territory
Who was Empress Theodora and what role did she play in the Byzantine Empire?
She was the wife of Emperor Justinian, advised him, and helped pass laws.
In addition to bath complexes, what was a major type of building constructed under Justinian’s rule?
Churches.
What is the most distinctive architectural feature of the Hagia Sophia?
Its massive dome.
What language did most citizens of the Byzantine Empire speak, despite Latin being the official language?
Greek
Under Emperor Justinian, how far did the Byzantine Empire expand?
To its furthest extent
How long did the Justinian Law Code influence legal systems after its creation?
For the next 900 years
What engineering feat, associated with providing water, did the Byzantine Empire build under Justinian?
Aqueducts.
After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, what did the Hagia Sophia become?
A mosque.
In what way were the emperors of the Byzantine Empire similar to those of the Roman Empire?
Both were ruled by emperors who had absolute power.
What was the long-term impact of Justinian’s aggressive military campaigns on the Byzantine Empire?
They helped expand the empire but also strained resources and contributed to its eventual decline.
How did Empress Theodora influence the building of Christian churches in the Byzantine Empire?
She encouraged the building of Christian cathedrals.
Why were Justinian's large building projects, including churches and bath complexes, important for the Byzantine Empire?
They showcased the empire's power, provided public services, and helped spread Christianity.
What happened to the Hagia Sophia in 1935, and what happened to it again in recent years?
t was turned into a museum in 1935 and later converted back into a mosque.