Byzantium

Question 1

what events led to the reconquest of the western empire?

Answer 1

• Belesarius’ capture of Vandal North Africa (523/3)
• Roman conquest of Ostrogothic Italy (535)

double roman victory = Justinian’s reassertion of Roman administration

Question 2

what was the result of the Roman conquest of Muslims?

Answer 2

• small Greek core → homogeneity
• new military elite
• decline of cities
• free peasants cont.

Question 3

who is Theodora?

Answer 3

• wife & consultant of Justinian
• monophysite

monophysite = belief that Christ is wholly divine in nature

Question 4

what was the** Donastist Controversy**?

Answer 4

donastists argued against the clergy that had renounced their faith during Diocletianic Persecution

Diocletianic Pers. = persecution of Christians under Diocletian’s rule

Question 5

what did the Synod of Arles do?

314

Answer 5

condemned Donatists

The synod affirmed the position that the validity of sacraments was not dependent on the moral character of the clergy but on the divine institution of the sacraments themselves

Question 6

what was the Arian Controversy?

Answer 6

declared that Christ is not truly divine

Christ = made by divine being but not divine himself

Question 7

what was the Council of Nicaea?

325

Answer 7

addressed the Arian Controversy → rejected Arainism

Arius & followers condemned as heretics

Question 8

what was the result of the Roman reconquest of the Western Byzantine Empire?

Answer 8

• financial exhaution
• some continuation of urban life
• trade & manufacturing

Question 9

who was Procpoius?

Answer 9

• member of Justinian’s administration
• denounced Justinian & Theodora in The Secret History