WAP Byzantine Empire (1200–1450)Overview

What empire is considered a continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire?

The Byzantine Empire

What was the capital of the Byzantine Empire?

Constantinople (formerly Byzantium)

What key theme characterized the Byzantine Empire's governance?

Balancing centralized power, Christianity, and cultural diffusion.

What was the role of the emperor in the Byzantine Empire?

The emperor held near-absolute authority, supported by a bureaucracy.

What significant legal reform did Justinian implement?

Justinian's Code, which updated Roman laws and added ecclesiastical laws.

What is caesaropapism?

The integration of political and religious authority in the emperor's role.

What was the Edict of Thessalonica?

The decree that made Christianity the official religion of the Byzantine Empire.

What was the significance of the Great Schism in 1054?

It divided Christianity into Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox due to disputes over authority.

What was the Iconoclast Controversy?

The conflict over the use of religious icons, with Byzantines supporting their removal.

What were the Nika Riots?

A rebellion in 532 CE against corruption and taxes, resulting in significant violence.

What architectural marvel was built by Justinian after the Nika Riots?

The Hagia Sophia, symbolizing divine favor and religious grandeur.

How did the Byzantine Empire influence Kievan Rus?

Through the beauty of the Hagia Sophia, which led to the adoption of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

What was the theme system in the Byzantine Empire?

A structure where soldiers received land for military service, maintaining central authority.

What was the impact of Byzantine preservation of Greco-Roman knowledge?

It transmitted knowledge to the Abbasid Caliphate and later to Western Europe.

What was the role of the Hippodrome in Byzantine society?

It served as a center for chariot racing and public entertainment, promoting unity.

What challenges did the Byzantine Empire face during its existence?

Limited expansion due to the Islamic Caliphate, internal riots, and religious tensions.

What was the significance of Charlemagne's coronation in 800 CE?

It challenged the legitimacy of the Byzantine emperor and highlighted the power of the Pope.

What were heresy laws in the Byzantine Empire?

Laws that defined Byzantine Christianity and restricted non-Byzantine Christians.

What was the relationship between Jews and Muslims in the Byzantine Empire?

They could practice their faiths but faced restrictions compared to Byzantine Christians.

What was the significance of the Byzantine Empire's centralized political power?

It maintained legal stability and justice through a court system.

How did the Byzantine Empire adapt to post-classical needs?

By modernizing laws through Justinian's Code and implementing the theme system.

What was the role of public entertainment in the Byzantine Empire?

It served to unify the populace and demonstrate the empire's ability to maintain order.

What were the main cultural exchanges facilitated by Constantinople?

The transmission of Greco-Roman ideas to Islamic and later Western European societies.

What was the impact of the Byzantine Empire on Western legal systems?

Justinian's Code served as a legal precedent for Western Europe and New World legal systems.