WH Byzantine, Russian, Mongol Empires

Constantine

(274 CE - 337 CE) Roman Emperor between 306 CE and 337 CE. He issued the Edict of Milan which outlawed the persecution of Christians.

Byzantine Empire

(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 the Emperor Constantine.

Constantinople

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

Theodora

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

Justinian

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

Hagia Sophia

Most famous example of Byzantine architecture, it was built under Justinian I and is considered one of the most perfect buildings in the world.

Hippodrome

An ancient Greek stadium used for horse and chariot racing

Excommunication

The taking away of a person's right of membership in a Christian church

Schism of 1054

split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

Edict of Milan

313 AD Constantine issued this decree, making Christianity the primary religion of the Roman Empire

Ivan III

"the Great"; ruled as great prince and first ruler of the independent state called Russia

Genghis Khan (Temujin)

A Mongolian general and emperor of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, known for his military leadership and great cruelty. He conquered vast portions of northern China and southwestern Asia.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant and traveler. His accounts of his travels to China offered Europeans a firsthand view of Asian lands and stimulated interest in Asian trade.

Pax Mongolica

The period of approximately 150 years of relative peace and stability created by the Mongol Empire.

Eastern Roman Empire

also known as the Byzantine empire; used mostly Greek language and culture; capital-Constantinople (new Rome); enjoyed benefit of Mediterranean trade;

Pope

head of the Roman Catholic Church; in ancient Rome, bishop of Rome who claimed authority over all other bishops

Byzantium

the civilization that developed from the eastern Roman Empire following the death of the emperor Justinian (C.E. 565) until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Justinian's Code of Laws

This code was composed by the Emperor based on Roman laws, were the clearest and most comprehensive laws of the time. It spread Roman legal principles beyond the Empire.

Yuan Dynasty

(1279-1368) Dynasty in China set up by the Mongols under the leadership of Kublai Khan, replaced the Song Dynasty

Khanates

Mongol kingdoms, in particular the subdivisions of Genghis Khan's empire ruled by his heirs

onion domes

a dome that bulges in the middle and rises to a point, used especially in Russian church architecture.

Feigned retreat

Pretending to run away. Nomads used this against these armies by baiting them with false flight.