Byzantine Flashcards
What did Constantine I accomplish in his reign?
- 313, Edict of Milan, established Christian tolerance
- Ruled by Roman law/politics
- Latin/Greek spoken (schools preserved culture/knowledge, Church developed literacy/philosophy)
- Built a lot of things
- Imported a lot of Greco-Roman art.
What was the significance of Theodosius? [4]
- Succeeded Constantine
- Last Emperor to rule over both halves of the Empire
- Campaigned against Goths and barbarians
- Made Christianity compulsory
What was the significance of Justinian? [6]
- Reorganized gov’t of Roman Empire
- 534, Codex Justinianus
- Sent Roman troops to conquer: Africa from the Vandals, Italy from the Ostrogoths, Spain from the Visigoths
- Supported Christian orthodoxy (fought to eliminate remaining Greco-Roman paganism).
What is the significance of Theodora? [3]
- Wife of Justinian, co-empress
- Used to be an exotic dancer
- Convinced Justinian to stay in Constantinople during the Nika riots.
What is the significance of Attila the Hun? [7]
- Dubbed “flagellium dei” (scourge of god)
- Expanded rule of the Huns to include many Germanic tribes
- Attacked Eastern Roman Emperor in wars of extraction
- Never invaded Constantinople or Rome.
- Significant figure in causing the fall of the Western Roman Empire
- Commanded vast army of warriors composed of different tribes
- Brilliant horseman and military leader
Which three cultures shaped the Middle Ages?
Roman, Barbarians, and Christians
What three empires dominated the Middles Ages?
Byzantine (Romans), Arab (Islamic), Frankish (Merovingian and Carolingian Dynasties)
What happened in the Merovingian Kingdom? [3]
- 509 AD, Kingdom united under King Clovis
- Ruled for 200 years
- Clovis converted to Christianity, first King of Franks to be recognized by the Pope
What happened in the Carolingian Kingdom? [2]
- Begins with Pepin the Short
- Charlemagne becomes King in 768 AD
Where did the Vikings come from?
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, and Finland)
What happened with the Vikings? [2]
- First invaded Britain in 793
- William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066 after the Battle of Hastings.
What was the significance of Charlemagne? [4]
- Expanded Frankish Empire
- Introduced reforms
- Dec. 25th 800 AD, became first Holy Roman Empire
- Role: protector of the Catholic Church
What were Charlemagne’s six reforms?
- Education
- Monetary Standard
- Grammar/punctuation
- Religious laws (made Christianity mandatory)
- Sought revival of the arts
- Strong government
Who were Iconoclasts?
People who thought icons were evil
What is an icon?
Image of a religious figure
Define iconoclasm.
The belief that worshipping icons was a superstitious practice akin to worshipping idols, which the Bible expressly forbids.
Describe the code of chivalry.
A code of behaviour that combined Christian values and the virtues of a noble warrior.
Describe the early middle ages. [3]
- 476-1050
- Period of perpetual strife among various Germanic people
- Little development
Describe the late middle ages. [3]
- 1050-1450
- More stable society develops
- Growth in agriculture and trade
What were the crusades?
A series of military campaigns ordered by various Popes against the Saracens (Christian Arabs, Turks, Moors, and Muslims)
How many crusades were there? When were they?
First Crusade: 1096
Second Crusade: 1147
Third Crusade: 1187
Fourth Crusade: 1202
Who was involved in the Hundred Years’ War? What were the event that led to it? [4]
- France and England
- English had land that French wanted
- Trade disputes
- King Edward III laid claim to the French throne
State the feudal system hierarchy.
King -> Greater Lords -> Lesser Lords -> Knights -> Townspeople -> Serfs
How did the feudal system provide stability? [3]
- Regulated distribution of wealth
- Ensured protection of all people
- Provided a social hierarchy
What was the Inquisition?
A court and process of the Roman Catholic Church setup to discover and punish hearsay which wielded immense power and brutality.
Why was their conflict between the Church and the State?
They sought to limit each other’s power
What are some classic features of Byzantine art?
- Colouring
- Body Positioning
- Mosiacs
