Byzantine Empire and Crusades Review

Flashcards covering key terms and events related to the Byzantine Empire and the Crusades.

Byzantine Empire

A continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, it straddled Europe and the Middle East.

Eastern Orthodox Church

A branch of Christianity that developed from the Eastern Roman Empire, differing from the Western Catholic Church.

Schism of 1054

A split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, primarily over the issue of religious icons.

Icons

Religious images or pictures used in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which became a point of contention during the Schism of 1054.

Crusades

Military campaigns sanctioned by the Church during the Middle Ages, aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control.

First Crusade

A successful military expedition by Western Christians in 1099 to capture Jerusalem from Muslim rule.

Seljuk Turks

A medieval Turkic state that played a major role in the events leading up to the Crusades, defeating the Byzantines at the Battle of Manzikert.

Battle of Manzikert

A decisive battle in 1071 where the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire, contributing to the Crusades.

Fourth Crusade

The crusade that ended with the sack of Constantinople in 1204 by Western Christians.

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire, its fall marked a significant shift in power from the East to the West.