Unit 2: Byzantine Empire

Christian leader Jerome wrote this in a letter about attacks on Rome:

“Who would believe that Rome, victor over all the world would fall, that she would be to her people both the tomb [grave] and the womb [birthplace].”

-from The Epistles of St. Jerome, tr. Roland Bainton

Which sentence best states how Jerome views Rome’s place in history?

• Jerome regards Rome as an enemy of Christians.

• Jerome sees Rome as a ruthless power.

• Jerome describes Rome as a mighty power that has fallen.

• Jerome wants Rome to become the center of Christianity.

Which language became the official language of the Byzantine Empire?

• Latin

• Greek

• Arabic

• Hebrew

How did the Byzantine Empire help preserve ancient Greek and Roman knowledge?

• Through oral storytelling

• By destroying competing texts

• Through trade routes only

• By copying and storing manuscripts

What was the main religion of the Byzantine Empire?

• Islam

• Judaism

• Paganism

• Christianity

What was Justinian's most significant legal achievement?

• Building the Hagia Sophia

• Creating the Justinian Code (Corpus Juris Civilis)

• Defeating the Persians

• Establishing new trade routes

The Hagia Sophia was important because it:

• Served as a military fortress

• Was used as Justinian's palace

• Demonstrated Byzantine architectural skill

• Stored the empire's gold reserves

Under Justinian's rule, the Byzantine Empire reached its greatest territorial extent by:

• Making peace with neighboring kingdoms

• Building a massive defensive wall

• Establishing trade agreements

• Reconquering former Roman territories

Who helped Justinian rule the Byzantine Empire and influenced many of his decisions?

• His general Belisarius

• His mother Helena

• His wife Theodora

• His brother Justin

What major advantage did Constantinople's location provide to the Byzantine Empire?

• Direct access to both the Mediterranean and Black Seas

• Protection from desert climates

• Proximity to China's Silk Road

• Access to northern European forests

Which geographical feature made Constantinople particularly defensible?

• Mountains surrounding the city

• The protection from water of the Golden Horn inlet and Bosphorus Strait

• Dense forest coverage

• Natural wall formations