Byzantine Empire, Justinian, and Islamic Contributions: Key Concepts and Historical Events

What was the name of the Eastern Roman Empire, and where did its name come from?

Byzantine Empire, its name came from the ancient Greek city of Byzantium

Which Roman Empire selected Byzantium as the capitol of the Roman Empire, and why was it a a good choice for a capitol city?

Constantine; located on a peninsula overlooking the Bosphorus strait, crossroads between East and West, patriarchal christian city

Constantinople is what modern-city?

Istanbul, Turkey

During the reign of which emperor did the Byzantine Empire experience its first great period of history and culture?

Justinian

Fully explain the turning point of Justinian's reign

When Justinian put down the Nika-Revolt in 532 (nika meaning conquer), after following his wife's advice

What was Justinian's chief objective?

Restore the greatness of the Roman Empire

What was the Justinian code?

systematic arrangement of laws that clarified Roman legal principles, preserved Roman law for future generations

What was the greatest example of Byzantine architecture?

The Haiga Sophia ("holy wisdom")

With what problems did Justinian leave the Byzantine Empire?

He neglected defense on the East and North borders from barbarian attacks, as well as leaving the empire on the brink of bankruptcy because of his expensive military campaigns and building programs

What are icons?

Painted images of Christ and Saints used in Eastern Orthodox churches

Fully explain the Great Schism

In 1054 the two churches faced a permanent division (Roman catholic had the pope as head of the church, while the Eastern Orthodox church had the patriarch as the head)

What was "Greek fire"?

A new secret weapon formed by Constantinople, it was fire that burned even on water

Who was Basil II?

Known as the "Bulgar Slayer", he was an emperor who helped the Byzantine Empire recover some of the strength and prosperity it lost after Justinian's death

At what battle in 1071 did the Seljuk Turks annihilate the Byzantine army?

The battle of Manzikert

Which crusade devastated Constantinople, and which city was it against?

The fourth crusade, Venice

Which people group finally toppled the Byzantine Empire, and in what year did the conquest occur?

The Ottoman Turks, 1453

Who were Cyril and Methodius?

Two Byzantinian missionary brothers who modified the Greek alphabet to give Slavs a written language

What are mosaics?

Inlaying of tiny pieces of stone or glass in wet cement/plaster to create patterns or pictures

Which Varangian warrior took control of the city of Novgorod in 862?

Rurik

Which Kievan ruler adopted Eastern Orthodoxy in 988?

Vladimir I

Which feature of Russian cathedrals is uniquely Russian?

Onion-shaped dome(s)

Under what ruler did Kievan Russia reach the height of its power and prestige?

Yaroslav (r. 1036-1054)

Which city did he want Kiev to rival in size, wealth, and culture?

Constantinople

Which group of Mongolian warriors dealt a death blow to Kiev in 1240

Tartars

After the decline in Mongol power, which Russian city rose to prominence in the North?

Moscow

Which peninsula is referred to as the "Cradle of Islam"?

Arabia

Through which descendant of Abraham do the Arabs claim ancestry?

Ishmael

Who are the Bedouins?

Arabian Nomadic herders

Where was Muhammad from?

Mecca

What religion did he create, and what does the word mean in English?

Islam, "submission"

What are the followers of Islam called?

Muslims

Who is the "god" of Islam?

Allah

What was unusual about Muhammad's religion, given the culture in which he lived?

His religion was monotheistic while the culture was primarily polytheistic

What was the Ka'bah?

A sacred shrine containing hundreds of idols

Why was Muhammad kicked out of Mecca?

He contradicted their polytheism, they also feared it would hinder their profitable businesses from which they gained money from visitors to the Ka'bah

Where did he go after he left Mecca, and what is his flight called?

Medina, Hegira

What did he do when he returned to Mecca?

He destroyed all of the idols of the Ka'bah and turned it into an Islamic place of worship deeming Mecca "Holy City"

What is the center of Islamic worship?

The Ka'bah

What is Islam's holiest city?

Mecca

What is Islam's holy book, and what does it mean in English?

The Qur'an, "recitations"

What is the central teaching of Islam's holy book?

"There is not god but allah, and Muhammad is his prophet"

List and fully explain the Five pillars of Islam (mainly an honors question)

Shahada: the confession, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet."

Salat: prayers: Muslims must pray five times a day facing Mecca

Zakat ("purification"): giving alms (money) to the poor

Sawm: fasting from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan

Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca, must do at least once in one's lifetime unless physically or financially unable to do so

What were Muhammad's successors called, and who was his first successor?

Caliphs, Abu Bakr

List the 3 factors that contributed to the rapid expansion of Islam?

Escape from poverty, empires were weakened from constant warfares, and jihad

The western advance of the Umayyad Caliphate was stopped in what European battle in 732?

Battle of Tours

Which caliphate marked the peak of the Muslim Empire?

Abbasid Caliphate

List some contributions of Muslims to medicine

They treated smallpox, and tuberculosis. They also had great surgical skills in removing cancer and cataracts

Who is the most renowned Muslim poet, and what are his most famous books?

Omar Khayyam; Rubaiyat, The Thousand and One Nights

From which culture did Muslims borrow much of their mathematical knowledge?

India

What is calligraphy?

The art of beautiful writing

What are Muslim houses of worship called?

mosque

Describe the typical features of a mosque?

A courtyard, in which is usually found a pool for ceremonial washing

A dome, which covers the central part of the mosque

A niche in the wall that faces Mecca

Minarets, which are tall towers where the muezzins (criers) sing the Muslim call to prayer