The Byzantine Empire and The Slavs Flashcards
When do historians transition from discussing ‘Rome’ to ‘Byzantium’?
Historians disagree on when to stop talking about ‘Rome’ and start talking about ‘Byzantium.’
How did the Byzantines view themselves?
The people we call Byzantines saw themselves as ‘Roman,’ albeit Greek-speaking Romans.
What did Emperor Justinian attempt regarding the Roman Empire?
Justinian briefly re-created most of the old Roman Empire, but it didn’t last.
What does ‘the Byzantine Empire’ refer to in this class?
‘The Byzantine Empire’ means ‘the Roman Empire after the 5th century.’
What was the Byzantine Empire essentially?
The Byzantine Empire was basically the eastern half of the old Roman Empire.
What language was the lingua franca of the Byzantine Empire?
The lingua franca was Greek, which survived until 1453 CE.
What ethnic groups were on the edges of the Byzantine Empire?
Turkic peoples (Avars, Khazars, Saljuqs) and Slavic peoples (Rus, Bulgars), along with Armenians, Georgians, Kurds, Arabs, and many more.
Who was Emperor Justinian?
Justinian (r. 527-565) was arguably the last great Roman emperor before Islam.
What was the Justinian Code?
The Justinian Code was a consolidation and simplification of Roman law, forming the basis of law in the east through the 1500s.
What was the Sassanian Empire?
The Sassanian Empire (224-651 CE) was multi-ethnic but ruled by a Persian elite.
What major conflict did the Sassanian Empire have with the Byzantine Empire?
The Sassanian Empire fought a devastating war against the Byzantines from 602-628.
Who was Heraclius?
Heraclius (r. 610-641 CE) made himself emperor and set out to re-conquer Jerusalem.
What significant event occurred in 630 under Heraclius?
Heraclius brought the True Cross back to Jerusalem.
What happened after 632 during Heraclius’s reign?
Arab-Muslim armies conquered Byzantine Syria, Egypt, Africa, and Iraq.
Who was Leo III the Isaurian?
Leo III saved the empire from civil war and Arab/Muslim invasion.
