Emergence of Medieval World & Byzantine Empire

Diocletian

The Roman emperor who divided the empire into a West and an East section. He is significant for establishing a functioning government that eventually evolved into the Byzantine Empire.

Constantine

The Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity, ended the persecution of Christians, and established the capital of the Roman Empire at Constantinople.

Edict of Milan

A law passed by Constantine that made Christianity a tolerated religion within the Roman Empire.

Early Churches

A collection of Christian groups that initially disagreed on the "true" nature of Christianity's core doctrines.

Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, & Antioch

The geographical locations that were home to some of the most important and influential early Christian churches.

Arianism

A heresy developed in the late third century that denied Christ's full divinity, arguing that Christ was a created being superior to humans but inferior to God.

Council of Nicaea

(325 CE) A council called by Constantine to establish official Christian doctrine. It settled disputes by declaring that Jesus is God and established the concept of the Trinity.

Germanic Invasions

A major contributing factor to the fall of Rome, often described by scholars as mass migrations of tribes escaping the Huns from the east.

Attila the Hun

The fierce leader of the Huns, a barbarian tribe that invaded Italy and pressured the Roman Empire during the Medieval Era.

410 CE

The year Alaric and the Visigoths successfully sacked the city of Rome.

476 CE

The date marking the final fall of the Western Roman Empire and the end of its centralized government.

Byzantine Empire

The name given to the Eastern Roman Empire, which continued to thrive for nearly a millennium after the fall of the West.

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire, known today as Istanbul.

Silk Road

A vital trade route stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea that brought immense wealth to Constantinople.

Why the Byzantine Empire remained strong

It possessed an easily defensible capital, access to maritime and land trade, large functional armies (legions), and maintained original Roman infrastructure and government systems.

Orthodox Christianity

A religious sect of Christianity led by the Byzantine Emperor and headquartered in Constantinople.

Theocracy

A system of government controlled by religious leaders; the Byzantine Empire is a primary historical example.

Holy Land

The region including Jerusalem where Jesus lived and taught. It was ruled by Byzantines until 630 CE and later occupied by Muslim Turks.

Justinian

A 6th-century Byzantine emperor who reconquered Roman territories, built the Hagia Sophia, and established a comprehensive new legal code.

Justinian Code

A collection of laws reflecting Christian values that served as a model for many future European legal systems.

Theodora

Justinian's wife and advisor who improved the status of women and famously convinced her husband to remain and fight during the Nika Revolt.

Nika Revolts

Riots triggered by high taxes and political grievances. After fans at the Hippodrome chanted "Nika!" (Victory), they besieged the palace for a week until the revolt was crushed.

Hagia Sophia

The Cathedral of Holy Wisdom built by Justinian. It was an architectural marvel and the world's largest cathedral for 1,000 years.

Fall of the Byzantine Empire

The empire gradually shrank until the 4th Crusade sacked it in 1200 CE; it finally fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE.

Schism of 1054

The permanent split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church after leaders from both sides excommunicated each other.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad.

Kaaba

The most sacred temple of Islam, located at the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca.

Allah

The Arabic word for God, used specifically in the context of Islam.

Medina (Yathrib)

The city where Muhammad and his followers lived and grew their community before eventually conquering Mecca.

Muhammad's unique role

He was distinct because he served as both a spiritual/religious leader (prophet) and a secular/political leader (ruler).

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Faith (Allah is the one God), 2. Prayer (5 times daily), 3. Alms (giving to the poor), 4. Fasting (during Ramadan), 5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Ramadan

The holy month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

Abu Bakr

The first Caliph and the immediate successor to Muhammad as the leader of the Islamic community.

Jihad

Means "striving in the way of the Lord." While it can refer to personal spiritual betterment, it can also refer to fair, defensive fighting for one's faith.

Umayyad Empire

(661 - 750 CE) An Islamic caliphate that expanded into North Africa, Spain, and the Middle East, becoming a powerful force threatening southern Europe.

Shia Islam

The branch of Islam whose followers believe that the leadership of the community should remain within the descendants of Muhammad.

Sunni Islam

The majority branch of Islam whose followers believe the community should select its own leadership.

Abbasid Caliphate

(750 - 1258 CE) The empire that succeeded the Umayyads, focusing more on internal administration and cultural development than external conquest.

Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, & Antioch

The geographical locations that were home to some of the most important and influential early Christian churches.

Arianism

A heresy developed in the late third century that denied Christ's full divinity, arguing that Christ was a created being superior to humans but inferior to God.

Council of Nicaea

(325 CE) A council called by Constantine to establish official Christian doctrine. It settled disputes by declaring that Jesus is God and established the concept of the Trinity.

Germanic Invasions

A major contributing factor to the fall of Rome, often described by scholars as mass migrations of tribes escaping the Huns from the east.

Attila the Hun

The fierce leader of the Huns, a barbarian tribe that invaded Italy and pressured the Roman Empire during the Medieval Era.

410 CE

The year Alaric and the Visigoths successfully sacked the city of Rome.

476 CE

The date marking the final fall of the Western Roman Empire and the end of its centralized government.

Byzantine Empire

The name given to the Eastern Roman Empire, which continued to thrive for nearly a millennium after the fall of the West.

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire, known today as Istanbul.

Silk Road

A vital trade route stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea that brought immense wealth to Constantinople.

Why the Byzantine Empire remained strong

It possessed an easily defensible capital, access to maritime and land trade, large functional armies (legions), and maintained original Roman infrastructure and government systems.

Orthodox Christianity

A religious sect of Christianity led by the Byzantine Emperor and headquartered in Constantinople.

Theocracy

A system of government controlled by religious leaders; the Byzantine Empire is a primary historical example.

Holy Land

The region including Jerusalem where Jesus lived and taught. It was ruled by Byzantines until 630 CE and later occupied by Muslim Turks.

Justinian

A 6th-century Byzantine emperor who reconquered Roman territories, built the Hagia Sophia, and established a comprehensive new legal code.

Justinian Code

A collection of laws reflecting Christian values that served as a model for many future European legal systems.

Theodora

Justinian's wife and advisor who improved the status of women and famously convinced her husband to remain and fight during the Nika Revolt.

Nika Revolts

Riots triggered by high taxes and political grievances. After fans at the Hippodrome chanted "Nika!" (Victory), they besieged the palace for a week until the revolt was crushed.

Hagia Sophia

The Cathedral of Holy Wisdom built by Justinian. It was an architectural marvel and the world's largest cathedral for 1,000 years.

Fall of the Byzantine Empire

The empire gradually shrank until the 4th Crusade sacked it in 1200 CE; it finally fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 CE.

Schism of 1054

The permanent split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church after leaders from both sides excommunicated each other.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam and the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad.

Kaaba

The most sacred temple of Islam, located at the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca.

Allah

The Arabic word for God, used specifically in the context of Islam.

Medina (Yathrib)

The city where Muhammad and his followers lived and grew their community before eventually conquering Mecca.

Muhammad's unique role

He was distinct because he served as both a spiritual/religious leader (prophet) and a secular/political leader (ruler).

5 Pillars of Islam

1. Faith (Allah is the one God), 2. Prayer (5 times daily), 3. Alms (giving to the poor), 4. Fasting (during Ramadan), 5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Ramadan

The holy month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

Abu Bakr

The first Caliph and the immediate successor to Muhammad as the leader of the Islamic community.

Jihad

Means "striving in the way of the Lord." While it can refer to personal spiritual betterment, it can also refer to fair, defensive fighting for one's faith.

Umayyad Empire

(661 - 750 CE) An Islamic caliphate that expanded into North Africa, Spain, and the Middle East, becoming a powerful force threatening southern Europe.

Shia Islam

The branch of Islam whose followers believe that the leadership of the community should remain within the descendants of Muhammad.

Sunni Islam

The majority branch of Islam whose followers believe the community should select its own leadership.

Abbasid Caliphate

(750 - 1258 CE) The empire that succeeded the Umayyads, focusing more on internal administration and cultural development than external conquest.