Unit 3 - Byzantine Empire and European Kingdoms

Question 1

Byzantine Empire

Answer 1

(330-1453) The eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. Its capital was Constantinople, named after Emperor Constantine.

Question 2

Constantine

Answer 2

Emperor of Rome who adopted the Christian faith and stopped the persecution of Christians (280-337)

Question 3

Constantinople

Answer 3

The City was founded as the second capital of the Roman Empire; later became the capital of the Byzantine Empire

Question 4

Germanic Tribes

Answer 4

Historical groups of people that occupied Central Europe and Scandinavia before and during the early Middle Ages.

Question 5

Hagia Sophia

Answer 5

the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom in Constantinople, was built by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian

Question 6

Emperor Justinian

Answer 6

Byzantine emperor in the 6th century A.D. who reconquered much of the territory previously ruled by Rome, initiated an ambitious building program, including Hagia Sofia, as well as a new legal code

Question 7

Hippodrome

Answer 7

An ancient Greek stadium used for horse and chariot racing

Question 8

Justinian Code of Law

Answer 8

A law code created by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian about 530 CE. It was a revision of the old Roman law system.

Question 9

Theodora

Answer 9

The wife of Justinian, helped to improve the status of women in the Byzantine Empire and encouraged her husband to stay in Constantinople and fight the Nike Revolt.

Question 10

Eastern Orthodox Church

Answer 10

a Christian religion that developed out of early Christianity in the Byzantine Empire

Question 11

The Catholic Church

Answer 11

was central to Medieval Europeans’ lives

Question 12

The Pope

Answer 12

Head of the Roman Catholic Church; In Middle Ages (especially) had a lot of power in Europe.

Question 13

Iconoclast

Answer 13

A person who attacks cherished beliefs, and traditional institutions. Based on error or superstition.

Question 14

Excommunication

Answer 14

The taking away of a person’s right of membership in a Christian church (Banishment from the church)

Question 15

Middle Ages

Answer 15

Also known as the medieval period, the time between the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD and the beginning of the Renaissance in the fourteenth century.

Question 16

Monks

Answer 16

Men who devoted their lives to the church by praying, meditating, and running institutions (like Universities)

Question 17

Benedictine Monks

Answer 17

were a Roman Catholic Church order of monks who preserved Roman Culture by copying manuscripts.

Question 18

Charlemagne (Charles the Great)

Answer 18

Frankish Ruler who united Christian (Catholic) Europe under the Holy Roman Empire (760);

Question 19

Nika Riots

Answer 19

These riots, took place over the course of a week in Constantinople in AD 532. It was the most violent riot that Constantinople had ever seen to that point, with nearly half the city being burned or destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed. It was started by the Blues and Greens during public games. It almost cost Justinian his throne.

Question 20

Feudalism

Answer 20

A political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belonged to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land

Question 21

Knights

Answer 21

Someone who promised to support a lord in exchange for land (Vassal)

Question 22

Manorialism

Answer 22

Pyramid = (top) Pope, King, Lord, Knight, Serf/Peasant (bottom)

Question 23

Fief

Answer 23

land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service

Question 24

Theme system of the Byzantine empire

Answer 24

made land available to the peasants in return for military service

Question 25

Aristocracy

Answer 25

the highest class in certain societies, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices.

Question 26

Feudal contract

Answer 26

under feudalism, the unwritten rules that determined the relationship between a lord and his vassal

Question 27

Hanseatic League

Answer 27

an organization of north German and Scandinavian cities to establish a commercial alliance.

Question 28

Illuminated manuscript

Answer 28

a luxurious handmade book with painted illustrations and decorations

Question 29

Great Schism of 1054

Answer 29

The separation between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 30

Guilds

Answer 30

Association of merchants or artisans who cooperated to protect their economic interests

Question 31

Magna Carta (1215)

Answer 31

An English document drawn up by nobles under King John that limited the power of the king. It influenced later constitutional documents in Britain and America.

Question 32

Rule of Law

Answer 32

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Question 33

Parliament

Answer 33

the lawmaking body of the British government

Question 34

Crusades (1095-1291)

Answer 34

The religious wars between Western Catholic Europe and the Islamic Turks over the holy lands in Jerusalem

Question 35

Infidel

Answer 35

one who does not accept a particular faith; unbeliever

Question 36

Chivalry

Answer 36

the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.

Question 37

Serfs

Answer 37

People who gave their land to a lord and offered their servitude in return for protection from the lord.

Question 38

Why was Constantinople a good location for the capital of the Byzantine Empire?

Answer 38

1. Provided a land bridge between Europe & Asia and became a center of trade. 2. Easily defendable from attack due to his geography

Question 39

What are some achievements of Emperor Justinian?

Answer 39

1. Creating a Code of Laws 2. Expanded Byzantine Empire (conquered Italy, Northern Africa, and parts of Spain) 3. Built Hagia Sophia

Question 40

What were two major changes to the Christian Church between 500 CE and 1500 CE?

Answer 40

1. The emergence of an organized Church Hierarchy with the Pope as the head of the Church. 2. The Great Schism of 1054 divided the Christian church into the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Question 41

What are the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Monarchs of Europe in the Middle Ages?

Answer 41

A power struggle between Kings and the Pope & who has the political authority. The Kings are supposed to have political authority and the Pope has religious authority, but it got complicated.

Question 42

Why did feudalism develop in Europe?

Answer 42

After a breakdown of centralized governmental power, people turned to feudalism for stability, protection from invasion, and social order.

Question 43

How are serfs and enslaved people different?

Answer 43

Serfs - could not own land; were tied to the manor (did not have freedoms)
Enslaved people - considered forms of property

Question 44

What is a feudal contract?

Answer 44

Under the feudal contract, the lord had the duty to provide the fief for his vassal, to protect him, and to do him justice in his court. In return, the lord had the right to demand the services attached to the fief (military, judicial, administrative) and a right to various “incomes” known as feudal incidents.

Question 45

Describe the rise in education in Europe during the Middle Ages.

Answer 45

Schools and Universities created by Catholic Church/monks. Under Charlemagne’s rule more were educated. As more were educated, some began to question the Catholic Church.

Question 46

Describe the rise of cities in the Middle Ages (Europe).

Answer 46

As trade increased, so did the demand for gold and silver coins, so a money-based economy formed (instead of bartering). Trading companies and banking firms were created to manage the exchange of sales and goods. As all this grew, so did towns and cities.

Question 47

What were the political and social causes of the crusades? What were the effects of the Crusades?

Answer 47

Western Catholic Europe and the Islamic Turks were fighting over the holy lands in Jerusalem. In the end, there were a lot of deaths because of the massacres but it also made travel and trade more popular.

Question 48

Justinian Plague

Answer 48

bubonic plague, that killed a ton of people, 10,000 a day at one point in the Byzantine Empire

Question 49

Explain the Hundred Years War. Who was involved? What was the cause? Impact on Europe

Answer 49

England and France were trying to gain each other’s territory. In the end, England got the island and France got most of Europe.

Question 50

What were cities like in Middle Ages Europe?

Answer 50

Dirty, smell, full of waste and air pollution. Full of craftspeople (blacksmiths, millers, etc).