Show:
Daily Life
Justinian and Theodora
The Great Schism
Legacies
Potpourri
100
What was the most popular form of entertainment for Byzantines?
Chariot racing!!
100
How do Justinian and Theodora's backgrounds compare?
They are both from very humble/peasant families.
100
What are the two branches of Christianity involved in The Great Schism?
The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
100
Byzantine painters greatly influenced artist from which major artistic movement in Europe?
The Renaissance
100
When is the "official" start of the Byzantine Empire? (Hint hint, it was the date fall of the western empire)
476 CE
200
What were demes and how did they have some power within Byzantine society?
Demes were basically a political group representing a section of the city. They were huge fan bases as well cheering for certain sponsored drivers in chariot races. They also held their own small militia to help defend the city and show support for politicians and emperors.
200
What is Justinian's greatest accomplishment from his reign as emperor?
Justinian's Code/Codex Juris Civilis, or his organization of all Roman law into one cohesive body.
200
Who was the head of each respective church?
The Pope = head of the Roman Catholic Church The Emperor and Patriarch of Constantinople = Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox Church
200
Why was Byzantine law so important in today's legal system?
Justinian's Code served as the basis for all western legal systems of today.
200
What language was commonly spoken in the Byzantine Empire but did not become the official language of the state until later?
Greek!!
300
How did Byzantines treat non-Christians who tried to visit/live in Constantinople?
They were forced to show they had legitimate business in order to enter and were placed in segregated ghettos. Some were forced to convert and be baptized or be beaten and kicked out of the city.
300
What cause the people to rise up and destroy half of Constantinople during the Nika Riots?
They were rebelling against Justinian's unfair raise in taxes to fund his ambitious military campaigns to reunite the empire.
300
What "final straw" happened in 1054 CE between Pope Leo IX and Cerularius, the patriarch of Constantinople?
Pope Leo IX excommunicated Cerularius for closing all western churches in Constantinople and Cerularius returned the favor excommunicated Pope Leo IX.
300
What role did the Byzantines play with Islamic and western European relations?
They acted as a barrier against invading Islamic armies during a time when western European nations were struggling.
300
What modern day countries makes up the core of what area once was the Byzantine Empire?
Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria
400
What were the major defenses of Constantinople?
It was surrounded by water on 3 sides and a heavy chain extended across the harbor to keep out enemy boats. There were a series of 3 parallel walls with watchtowers and a moat 30 feet deep. There was also a Bureau of Barbarians which functioned like the CIA as well as their secret weapon: Greek Fire!!
400
What did Theodora champion during her time as empress?
She was a huge advocate for women's rights and women's protections. She also helped homeless people and the poor.
400
Why did the crowning of Charlemagne help to deteriorate the relationship between the east and west?
Charlemagne was crowded because Pope III did not think Empress Irene was a strong enough to lead and replaced her with a man, whom he named the true "Holy Roman Emperor".
400
What sort of knowledge was integrated into western civilization from the Islamic world thanks to the Byzantines?
They introduce many Islamic ideas in science, mathematics, and architecture into Europe.
400
Why was Constantinople's location so great for its economic success?
It served as a bridge between the east and the west, becoming extremely wealthy off being located on several major trade routes.
500
How did the treatment of lower classes show both compassion and harshness in Constantinople by the upper classes?
Lower classes could be punished with harsher punishments for committing crimes but there were also widespread charity programs in place. Lower classes were given public baths to help keep every sanitary, daily meals were distributed, the church provided orphanages, schools, and hospitals for all. Theodora began a program that provided housing, money, food, and even attractive clothing to young women and girls with no other support system.
500
What evidence is there that Theodora worked behind the scenes to get a lot of work done during Justinian's reign as emperor?
Her name is on every piece of major legislation during his reign.
500
What fundamental belief lead to the Byzantine Empire adopting the idea of iconoclasm for brief periods of time during its existence?
Some believed people were worshipping the icon or image/statue/painting itself instead of the "true" or "more real" idea of what it represented. They also saw the Islamic Empires rapid advance and borrowed the idea of an icon-less religion.
500
How did the fall of the Byzantines help jumpstart the Renaissance in western Europe?
When Constantinople fell, many of the scholars who had copied and preserved ancient Greek and Roman ideas, philosophy, technologies, and sciences fled to western Europe. This sudden influx of scholars and their knowledge helped to begin the Renaissance.
500
What were some of the Roman traditions carried over from the old Roman Empire?
1. Middle and lower class homes made of wood 2. Higher class homes lived in mansions made of stone 3. The people were provided public baths, and had huge gangs of fans for public games - chariot races were the main event!!