Eastern Europe Overview

Justinian

Byzantine emperor from 572-565 CE who was an absolute ruler and recaptured parts of the Western Roman Empire.

Justinian Code

A compilation of Roman laws into one document that updated and standardized laws and influenced future European law codes.

Hagia Sophia

A huge church considered one of the most beautiful in the world, built during the reign of Justinian.

Empress Theodora

The most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire who advised Justinian and played a crucial role in various projects.

Justinian Plague

A devastating plague that killed about 40% of the population in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Great Schism

The split of the Christian Church in 1054 into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Orthodox vs Catholic

Differences between Roman Catholic (Pope's authority) and Eastern Orthodox (collective leadership among Patriarchs).

Mosaics

Art created using small tiles, often depicting religious themes or leaders.

Kiev

A city located on the Dnieper River, crucial for trade routes between Constantinople and Kiev.

Cyrillic Alphabet

An alphabet developed by Cyril and Methodius for translating the Bible into Slavic languages.

Vladimir the Great

The ruler who Christianized Kievan Rus and adopted Byzantine Christianity as the state religion.

Conversion to Christianity

Led to the establishment of religious institutions and the introduction of Byzantine art in Kievan Rus.

Ivan III

Also known as Ivan the Great, expanded the Grand Duchy of Moscow and established a centralized Russian state.

Viking Age (700’s-1066)

Period during which Norsemen known as Vikings raided, colonized, and traded extensively across Europe.

Danelaw

Area of England controlled by Viking armies during their conquests.

Viking Ships

Advanced vessels that enabled Vikings to navigate open seas and shallow rivers.

Greenland

Settled by Vikings around 986 AD, it served as a base for further explorations into North America.

Sagas

Poetic stories and histories recorded and performed live, such as the Vinland Saga.

Leif Erikson

Son of Erik the Red who explored lands west of Greenland, known as Vinland.

Rollo-Paris

A Viking leader who became the first ruler of Normandy after settling in France.

Norse Mythology

A belief system worshiping gods like Odin, Thor, and Loki, featuring tales of Valhalla and Ragnarok.