The Byzantine Empire (English)

Question 1

Justinian I

Answer 1

A Byzantine Emperor that had many major accomplishments including expanding Byzantine territory through military
campaigns, building public works after the riot in
Constantinople, ordering the Hagia Sophia to be built, and putting together a code of laws.

Question 2

Christianity

Answer 2

A monotheistic (One God)
religion in which Jesus is the prophet and son of God. It
became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire when
Constantine made it the official religion in 311 AD after
witnessing a miracle that
allowed him to win the battle of the Milvian Bridge.

Question 3

Constantinople

Answer 3

The capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire. It was originally named Byzantium by the Greeks, but Emperor
Constantine changed the name of the city after himself. Today it is known as Istanbul, as named by the Turks (Muslims) when they conquered it using
gunpowder in 1453 AD.

Question 4

Justinian’s Code

Answer 4

A code of laws created by
Justinian and his court of men to ensure that all his lands obeyed the same set of laws. Before the code was written, different lands under the Byzantine empire had different laws.

Question 5

Byzantine Empire

Answer 5

The Eastern half of the Roman Empire inhabited by Greek

people and brought down by the Turks (Muslims) in 1453 AD.

Question 6

Constantine

Answer 6

An emperor of the Eastern
Roman Empire known for making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, as well as making Constantinople the
capital of the empire in the East.

Question 7

Persecution

Answer 7

When someone or a group of
people get punished, judged, or murdered for their beliefs,
religion, or race.

Question 8

Catacombs

Answer 8

Underground passages where
early Christians held their
religious meetings and buried their dead.

Question 9

Empress Theodora

Answer 9

She was a Byzantine Empress that
demonstrated bravery during the riots in Constantinople by persuading her
husband Justinian to stay and put an end to the riots.

Question 10

Emperor Nero

Answer 10

A Roman ruler that was unkind to
Christians and
ordered their
persecution.

Question 11

Blues & Greens

Answer 11

Rival chariot teams that represented the poor and wealthy of
Constantinople. They once united to rebel against the emperor
Justinian, almost destroying the entire city.

Question 12

Hagia Sophia

Answer 12

A large cathedral (church) ordered to be built by Justinian in
Constantinople and became the center of Christianity for
hundreds of years. It has changed power and purpose multiple times, but this has added to its beauty and legacy.

Question 13

Mosaics

Answer 13

Works of art created by arranging tesserae, colored tiles made of stone, glass, or marble, in patterns to create a scene or detail of life.

Question 14

Ancient Greek

Answer 14

Classics
Written works by Greek authors that held knowledge and history such as Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”, and were valued and
protected by the Byzantines through their complex and strong walls.

Question 15

Iconoclasm

Answer 15

The smashing of religious icons (paintings, statues, and others)
within churches. It was ordered by Byzantine emperors because they did not want their people worshipping objects instead of God and his Saints.

Question 16

The Great Schism

Answer 16

A split in the Christian religion, creating the Roman Catholic Church under the command of the Pope, and the Eastern Orthodox Church under the command of the Byzantine emperor and his patriarchs.