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Medieval History A-Level > The Reign of Justinian > Flashcards

The Reign of Justinian Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the dates of Justinian’s reign?

A

527-565

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2
Q

what are the dates of Procopius’s life?

A

c.500-565

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3
Q

from what date was Procopius assessor (chief of staff) to Belisarius?

A

527

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4
Q

what did Procopius’s position as assessor to Belisarius mean?

A

he had at least weakly contact with the emperor

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5
Q

what are Procopius’ three books?

A

1) the wars
2) the secret history
3) the buildings

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6
Q

what did Procopius say of Justinian in the secret history?

A

“mortal nature seemed to have taken the wickedness of all other men combined and planted it in this man’s soul”

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7
Q

what can the secret history not have been?

A

known about by the emperor as it discussed controversial elements to rule and is highly critical of Justinian and Theodora

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8
Q

what was Justinian’s background?

A

1) from a military non-aristocratic family

2) born in Thrace (so not an urban sophisticate)

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9
Q

who did emperor Justin I have to choose between to succeed him?

A

two nephews (Justinian and Germanus)

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10
Q

what gave Justinian the upper hand over Germanus?

A

in 520 Justinian was appointed as Master of the Soldiers in Presence, giving him a commanding position in the palace and capital

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11
Q

what are the dates of Khusro’s reign?

A

531-579

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12
Q

what was empress Theodora’s background?

A

1) father was a bear trainer in the hippodrome

2) she and her sister became actresses (whores) at a very early age

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13
Q

what did the court think of Theodora?

A

found her repellent (rejected by the establishment)

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14
Q

what evidence for the joint nature of imperial rule does the Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus give?

A

1) Inscription dedicated to Justinian and Theodora pronounces her the ‘God crowned Theodora’ (only other figure known as God crowned was the mother of God (Mary))
2) Justinian and Theodora’s monograms appear on all the pillars in the exact same number (numerical equivalence)

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15
Q

when was the Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus built?

A

c.527-c.536

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16
Q

when was the Hagia Sophia built?

A

532-537

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17
Q

what evidence for the joint nature of imperial rule does the Hagia Sophia give?

A

Justinian and Theodora’s monograms appear on all the pillars in the exact same number (numerical equivalence)

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18
Q

what evidence for the joint nature of imperial rule do the Ravenne ‘ruler panels’ give?

A

1) Panels face each other as equals
2) Theodora is crowned which was an abnormal occurrence (empress not usually)
3) Nimbus (halo) around both Theodora and Justinian’s heads marks proximity to God
4) both Theodora and Justinian are dressed entirely in purple

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19
Q

when were the Ravenna ‘ruler panels’ made?

A

547

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20
Q

what evidence for the joint nature of imperial rule does the administration of the empire give?

A

1) Evidence that Theodora was directly involved in ruling (e.g. appoints and dismisses provincial rulers without consulting Justinian)
2) Theodora was the one who made (cajoling and threatening) Tribonian organise the law
3) reforms peter out after Theodora’s death

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21
Q

when did Theodora die?

A

548

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22
Q

what speech did Theodora made during the Nika Riots?

A

‘My opinion then is that the present time, above all others, is inopportune for flight, even though it bring safety…may I never be separated from this purple…the royal purple is the noblest burial shroud’

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23
Q

what did Procopius say happened after Theodora gave her speech?

A

‘all were filled with boldness, turning their thoughts towards resistance’

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24
Q

for how long was Constantinople the largest city in the world?

A

300-400 years

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25
Q

what was the population of Constantinople in 540?

A

700,000

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26
Q

when was there an earthquake in Constantinople and what did it cause?

A

557 - caused the collapse of the dome of the Hagia Sophia

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27
Q

why was Constantinople chosen as the capital city?

A

1) next to an outlet of the black sea which made it one of the richest fishing places
2) Constantine was very hilly so difficult to invade
3) had access to the sea

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28
Q

what was the wall surrounding Constantinople called?

A

the Theodocian wall

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29
Q

how long did the Theodocian wall stand?

A

for 1000 years until Cosntantinople fell in 1453

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30
Q

what did the imperial end of Constantinople in the east contain?

A

1) Great Palace
2) Hagia Sophia
3) Hippodrome

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31
Q

what was the emperor’s box in the hippodrome called?

A

the Kathisma

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32
Q

what did the Kathisma so?

A

physically joined the political side with the leisure side

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33
Q

what did Collins say of the Kathisma?

A

‘the centre of government stood face to face with the main forum for the expression of public opinion’

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34
Q

why were major political points made in the Hippodrome?

A

1) the large number of spectators meant that criticism and controversial requests could be expressed with virtual impunity
2) ignoring these demonstrations of public opinion was likely to lead to rioting

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35
Q

what happened when magistrates or governors entered their boxes in the Hippodrome?

A

they were met with public acclaim or criticism

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36
Q

how many people could the Hippodrome hold?

A

10,000

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37
Q

what were the four teams in the Hippodrome?

A

Blues, Greens, Reds, Whites

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38
Q

evidence of Hippodrome teams being woven into every element of life in Constantinople

A

1) Live in area where everyone supported same team
2) Teams had religious significance (e.g. Greens = monothysite (Christ + God = of one nature) and Blues = Christ + God of different nature so Christ human)
3) Ceremonial role (e.g. represented the voice of the people at imperial coronations)
4) Civic responsibilities (e.g. firefighting)

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39
Q

when were the Nika Riots?

A

532

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40
Q

what triggered the Nika Riots?

A

In 532 Justinian arrested the leaders of the Blue and Green factions and sentenced them to death

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41
Q

what happened during the Nika Riots?

A

1) Blues and Greens united to raid the public jail, freeing the leading faction members and murdering some officials in the process
2) Rioting so severe that Justinian undertook measures to placate the pop. (sacked two unpopular ministers: Praetorian Perfect John and Tribonian the Quaestor)
3) But the act was not sufficient and crowds began to proclaim Hypatius as emperor (taking him to the Hippodrome for public acclamation)

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42
Q

how did Justinian respond to the Nika Riots?

A

1) Justinian mobilised his soldiers, under Belisarius, to forcefully bring about the end of the riots (killed 30,000 protestors in the Hippodrome)
2) Executed Hypatius and his brother

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43
Q

what was the impact of the Nika Riots?

A

1) Northern part of the city burnt down
2) One third of the city homeless
3) Many monuments in the centre of the city were destroyed (e.g. church of St Irene, the offices of the Praetorian Prefecture of the East)

44
Q

when was there an outbreak of the bubonic plague?

A

542

45
Q

how much of Constantinople’s population did the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 542 wipe out?

A

10,000 in one day according to Procopius

46
Q

what impact did the outbreak of bubonic plague have on the population of the Mediterranean?

A

population 60% smaller in 600 than it had been in 500

47
Q

what did Procopius say the outbreak of bubonic plague in 542 was?

A

‘God’s answer to unjust leadership’

48
Q

what events of apocalyptic nature took place after the outbreak of plague in 542?

A

1) Plague never completely abated, coming in cycles of infection
2) Earthquake in Constantinople in 557
3) Tsunami destroyed Cos

49
Q

what were the secondary effects of the plague in 542?

A

1) Famine in 542-c.546
2) Reduction in the taxation base meant budget for public and salaries of teachers and physicians cut down
3) army was reduced in size
4) Not entirely negative results as benefited lower economic classes through wage increases

50
Q

why did Justinian patronise churches?

A

1) Served as a symbol of power in a society centres on religion
2) Invoked higher authority to rule (rule = as unquestionable as God)

51
Q

who were Sergius and Bacchus?

A

patron saints of soldiering and military

52
Q

who were the architects of the Hagia Sophia?

A

1) Anthemius of Tralles

2) Isidore of Miletus

53
Q

why can the Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus be considered as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the Hagia Sophia?

A

1) first domed building in the antique world
2) designed by the same architects as the Hagia Sophia (Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus)
3) cheaper and simpler version of Hagia Sophia

54
Q

what does Hagia Sophia mean?

A

holy wisdom

55
Q

what did Justinian declare after the Hagia Sophia was compelted?

A

‘Solomon, I have outdone thee’ (Solomon being the builder of the temple in Jerusalem)

56
Q

why did Justinian build the Hagia Sophia?

A

potentially as a statement of his power after the Nika Riots

57
Q

for how long was the Hagia Sophia the largest enclosed space in the world?

A

1,000 years

58
Q

how many men worked on the Hagia Sophia?

A

20,000

59
Q

how was the Hagia Sophia funded?

A

with half of the entire empire’s tax for 5 years

60
Q

what did John Agapetus call the Hagia Sophia?

A

‘God’s dwelling’

61
Q

how did the Hagia Sophia call on the classical past?

A

used pillars looted from classical temples

62
Q

what was the effect using pillars looted from classical temples in the Hagia Sophia?

A

composite nature was a statement: here we have the culmination of everything that has come before us’ - legitimise rule

63
Q

when was the San Vitale constructed in Ravenna?

A

c.546

64
Q

what is significant about the San Vitale in Ravenna?

A

only place where Byzantine Mosaics remain as the rest of the Byzantine world undergoes a spasm of Iconoclasm in the 710s-780 but Ravenna is out of Byzantine control by that point

65
Q

how should the ‘ruler panels’ in the San Vitale be treated?

A

although only contemporary image of Justinian must not be treated as a unique occurrence as probable a stock image of Justinian that occurred in all churches during his reign

66
Q

what was the ‘Roman Triumph’?

A

the highest honour that the Roman estate could bestow on a military figure and it was given as a theatrical welcoming back upon the event of victory

67
Q

what happened during a Roman Triumph?

A

1) The victor gave back the imperium (right to fight) in exchange for honours
2) The victor’s face would be painted red as he adopted the position of Mars (Greek god of war)
3) Treasure would be distributed to the crowds

68
Q

when did the last classical triumph occur?

A

70 AD (to mark Titus’ return from Jerusalem)

69
Q

what was erected after the Triumph of 70 AD?

A

the Arch of Titus in 82 AD

70
Q

when did Justinian hold a ‘Roman Triumph’ and in honour of what?

A

541 to commemorate Belisarius’ on his conquest of Vandal Africa

71
Q

the triumph in 541 AD was the first triumph for how many years?

A

500

72
Q

what happened to the Vandal King Gelimer during the Triumph of 541 according to Procopius?

A

1) in front of the Kathisma, ‘they stripped off the purple garment’ of Gelimer to symbolically rob him of his rule (purple robe linked to imperial rule)
2) ‘compelled him to fall prone on the ground and do obeisance to the Emperor Justinian’

73
Q

why was Gelimer not killed?

A

1) to illustrate how the conquest of Africa was so complete that their leader’s life is inconsequential
2) to ensure he didn’t become a martyr

74
Q

what happened to Belisarius during the Triumph of 541?

A

1) treated in the same manner as Gelimer (stripped of purple robe and made to do obeisance to Justinian)
2) made to walk on foot as opposed to ride in a chariot during the procession

75
Q

why did Justinian treat Belisarius in the manner that he did during the Triumph of 541?

A

1) Insight into the insecurity of Justinian as felt need to assert dominance over the hugely popular general (cult of personality of Belisarius = threat)
2) Rumours that Belisarius was plotting to set himself up as an independent king in Africa)

76
Q

what did Gelimer receive after the Triumph of 541?

A

an estate in Galatia

77
Q

why did Justinian hold a Triumph in 541?

A

to symbolise how the present and future of the Roman Empire is and will be akin to the past, restoring sense of what the empire should be

78
Q

who was in charge of Justinian’s reforms to the law?

A

Tribonian

79
Q

what did Justinian set up in 528?

A

a commission to codify the imperial edicts, systematise and excerpt the writings of the jurists and produce a new introductory legal textbook for legal studies

80
Q

when waa the Digest published?

A

533

81
Q

what was the validity of the Digest linked to and what quote by Justinian backs this up?

A

1) Linked its validity to victory in Africa
2) Justinian: ‘God has granted us, after Our peace with the Persians, Our triumph over the Vandals, Our taking of the whole of Libya, Our regaining of the most famous Carthage to fulfil the task of restoring the ancient laws’

82
Q

what was Justinian’s code inspired by?

A

Theodosian’s code

83
Q

what was different about Justinian’s code to Theodosian’s code?

A

Justinian’s = less ambitious as Theodosius II failed in his task to produce one universal code of Roman Law

84
Q

what did Heather day of written law?

A

‘written law was the great symbol of Rome’s overarching claim to be a unique, God-guided civilisation’

85
Q

when was the First Persian War?

A

525/6 - 531

86
Q

how much of Byzantium’s income went towards the First Persian War?

A

a quarter

87
Q

when was the Second Persian War?

A

The Second Persian War (540-561/2)

88
Q

why did Khusro declare war in 540?

A

1) Urged by Armenian denomination from the Arsacid household to go to war after a roman army leader in Armenia murdered a member of the Arsacid household
2) Two Italian priests warned him of what had happened to the Vandal and the Ostrogoths (take the initiative)
3) BUT fundamentally looking for excuse to contravene the ‘eternal peace’ for money

89
Q

evidence that Khusro was only interested in extracting large sums of money as opposed to gaining territory during the Second Persian War

A

1) Set Beroea ablaze when it failed to produce sufficient ransom money
2) Collected 200 pounds of gold from Chalcis

90
Q

when did Khusro and Justinian agree a five year armistice and what were the conditions?

A

from 545-550 on the condition that Justinian agreed to pay Persians 400 pounds of gold each year

91
Q

how did the Second Persian War end?

A

with a 50 year peace agreement (no sum of money demanded from Justinian as clearly the victor)

92
Q

when was the Vandal War?

A

532-534

93
Q

why did Justinian invade Vandal Africa in 532?

A

1) to restore the rightful ruler (Hilderic) to the throne

2) felt obligated to free the orthodox Christians of Africa from subjection to the hostile rule of heretics

94
Q

who did Gelimer depose in a coup and when?

A

Hilderic in 530

95
Q

why was Hilderic a preferable ruler of the Vandal Kingdom than Gelimer in Justinian’s eyes?

A

1) Hilderic had maintained good relations with the Byzantines (e.g. ending the maltreatment of Catholic and alienating the Ostrogothic kingdom)
2) Gelimer was an Arian

96
Q

who wrote an account of the poor treatment of the African clergy and Church at the hands of the Vandals?

A

Bishop Vitor of Vita

97
Q

what dream did a bishop tell Justinian of?

A

a dream which promised success if the emperor would preserve the Christians of Africa

98
Q

why was an expedition to Africa so risky?

A

1) Eastern emperors had attempted similar expeditions before (442, 468, 470) and all had resulted in failure
2) By the reign of Zeno (474-91) some units of the Eastern army agreed to serve only provided that they were not sent to Africa
3) Distance from Constantinople to Africa eliminated surprise factor to invasion

99
Q

when did Belisarius establish himself in Gelimer’s palace in Carthage?

A

533

100
Q

when did Gelimer surrender?

A

534

101
Q

when was the First War against the Ostrogoths?

A

535-540

102
Q

why did Justinian invade Ostrogothic Italy?

A

Theodahad (the Ostrogothic ruler) murdered Amalasuintha (former regent ruler for son – Athalaric) in 535

103
Q

why did Justinian decide to negotiate peace in 539 during the First Ostogothic War?

A

the Goths appealed to Persia to open a ‘second front’

104
Q

why did the peace agreement with the Ostrogoths fail in 539?

A

Belisarius did not want peace and refused to sign the peace agreement and as a result the goths refused to accept the treaty

105
Q

how long did Imperial control over Italy last after Justinian’s death in 565?

A

3 years (Lombards invaded in 568 and took two thirds of Italy)

106
Q

how long did Imperial control over Africa last after Justinian’s death in 565?

A

until 595

Medieval History A-Level (3 decks)

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