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The Byzantine Empire - a Summary
The Western Roman Empire finally collapsed
in the 5th century. The Eastern Roman
Empire, however, would survive and continue
on for another 1,000 years. Historians later
named this surviving half of the empire the
Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire's
capital was Constantinople. This city was a
highly defensible and ideally situated trading
center founded by Constantine in the early
4th century.
Rome
Constantinople
The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest size under the Emperor Justinian, who won back
many lands lost in the old Western Empire. He was forced to raise taxes for his costly wars,
however, and this left the empire with unhappy citizens and money problems. As a result,
most of the lands he gained were eventually lost again.
Justinian knew that old Roman Law, starting with the Twelve Tables, was founded on the correct
principles of the "rule of law" and "equal rights under the law." However, he also saw that the
laws themselves had become too numerous, confusing, and often contradictory. So, in 529,
he commissioned a group of lawyers to organize these laws into a unified, systematic body of law.
It would become known as Justinian's Code.
Destruction caused by the Nika Revolt caused a massive
rebuilding project in Constantinople. One church that had to
be rebuilt by Justinian and his wife Theodora, was the massive
Hagia Sophia, considered one of the most beautiful structures
in the world.
The early Christian Church was administered by five major bishops, called Patriarchs, until the
patriarch of Rome claimed supreme authority. This patriarch would become known as the Pope.
The eastern patriarchs disagreed with his claim of superiority. Differences over many other issues
continued. In 325, a council of Church leaders adopted a statement of unified Christian beliefs
called the Nicene Creed.
However, differences between the Eastern and Western Churches
resulted in a division of the church in the East from the church in the
West in 1054 A.D. called the Great Schism. The church in the West
became the Roman Catholic Church, while the church in the East
became the Eastern Orthodox Church. Each church dominated
the culture of its region. In addition to the two churches, two distinct
civilizations would emerge as a result of the Great Schism.
Learning was considered important to the
Byzantine scholars, and they studied many
subjects. They copied and preserved earlier
Greek and Roman manuscripts which might
otherwise have been lost to history. When
merchants and scholars visited Constantinople,
they brought back many aspects of Byzantine
culture to their homelands. Eastern Orthodox
missionaries also spread Byzantine culture
as they converted Eastern European Slavs
to their religion.
The Byzantine Empire was almost always under attack. Gradually, in the later years of the
empire, more and more of their territory was lost until, in 1453, Constantinople fell to Muslim
Turks. The Byzantine Empire was no more.
Vocabulary:
contradictory: opposed to each other
scholars: educated people
distinct: different
missionaries: those who go out to spread their religion
Name________________________________________________ Date______________ Period_____
The Byzantine Empire - Quiz
Directions: Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1.
Later historians named the surviving half of the Roman Empire the "Byzantine Empire."
The Byzantine Empire's capital was a highly defensible, trade city founded by Constantine
in the early 4th century, called:
a. Rome
2.
b. Antioch
c. Constantinople
If Justinian knew that Roman Law was founded on the correct principles of the "rule of law" and
"equal rights under the law," why did he commission a group of lawyers to organize it into the
unified, systematic body of law known as Justinian's Code in 529 ?
a. Roman Law was far too harsh and unfair.
b. Roman Law had become too confusing and sometimes contradictory.
c. Roman Law had reached its limit - no new laws could be created.
d. all of the above
3.
The Eastern patriarchs disagreed with the patriarch of Rome in the West (the Pope) as to who had
supreme authority over the Christian Church. Even so, in 325, a Council of Church leaders met in
Nicaea and adopted a statement of unified Christian beliefs called the:
a. Nicene Creed
4.
c. Christian Doctrine
Differences between the church in the West and the church in the East led to a split in which the
Western Church became known as the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Church became
the Eastern Orthodox Church. The split that resulted in these two distinct churches is known as:
a. The Great Split
5.
b. Papal Decree
b. The Nicene Concordat
c. The Great Schism
How was Byzantine culture spread ?
a. Merchants and scholars brought back Byzantine culture to their homelands after
visiting Constantinople.
b. Eastern Orthodox missionaries spread Byzantine culture as they converted the Slavs
to their religion.
c. both of the above
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Support your answer from text.
(1 point for complete sentences
6-8.
1 point for correct answer
1 point for supporting answer from text)
Why did Justinian fail to hold on to the lands he won back in the old Western Empire ?
Support your answer from the text.
9-11. Byzantine scholars were committed to learning. Because of this commitment, what was it that
they did for the rest of the world ? Support your answer from text.