Question 1

The accomplishments of Theodulf of Orléans included all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Theodulf of Orléans did not apply mathematical perspective to painted art.

Question 2

Who wrote the Alexiad?

Accepted Answer

The Alexiad was written by Anna Comnena, the daughter of Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.

Question 3

The earliest vernacular writings were composed in

Accepted Answer

The earliest vernacular writings were composed in regions such as Wales and Ireland, which were Celtic regions that had not been part of the former Roman Empire. These writings were in Celtic languages, such as Irish and Welsh, and were produced by Christian monks.

Question 4

Anna Comnena's most famous work can be described as

Accepted Answer

Anna Comnena's most famous work, The Alexiad, is a scholarly study of the reign of her father, Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.

Question 5

The final conquest of Byzantium was in 1453 by the

Accepted Answer

The final conquest of Byzantium in 1453 was by the Ottoman Turks, who laid siege to the city and eventually breached its walls, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Question 6

The most significant military innovations in the early medieval West were related to

Accepted Answer

Mounted infantry was the most significant military innovation in the early medieval West because it allowed armies to move more quickly and to attack with greater force.

Question 7

The principles of Benedict's Rule included all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Benedict's Rule includes principles of obedience, stability, and conversion, but solitude is not explicitly mentioned as a principle. However, silence and contemplation are important practices encouraged in Benedictine life, which can lead to moments of solitude.

Question 8

Alcuin accomplished all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Alcuin did not teach Charlemagne how to write; Charlemagne was already an adult and likely never learned to write himself. Alcuin was involved in educational reforms and writing, but not in teaching Charlemagne personally to write.

Question 9

What significant Byzantine architectural innovation allowed round domes to be placed atop straight walls?

Accepted Answer

Pendentives are wedge-shaped elements that allow the transition from a square or rectangular base to a circular dome. This architectural innovation was significant because it allowed for the creation of large, impressive domes that could be placed atop straight walls.

Question 10

All of the following statements about Hrotsvitha are true EXCEPT that

Accepted Answer

While Hrotsvitha is known to be the first female dramatist and poet from Germany, she was not the only laywoman whose writings have survived from her period.

Question 11

According to the philosopher John Scottus Eriugena,

Accepted Answer

According to John Scottus Eriugena, nature could be divided into four categories, one of which was equivalent to Platonic forms. This idea is known as the "fourfold division of nature" and is a central concept in Eriugena's philosophy.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about Bede is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

Bede lived in a monastery where Latin was the primary language spoken and he was known for his mastery of Latin, so the statement that his writing was poor because he lived in a place where Latin was not spoken is inaccurate.

Question 13

Which influential bishop of Seville attempted to write an encyclopedia arranged around the origins and meanings of words?

Accepted Answer

Isidore of Seville wrote a famous encyclopedia called the "Etymologies" which was arranged around the origins and meanings of words.

Question 14

In elucidating Charlemagne's response to the Second Council of Nicaea,Theodulf of Orléans wrote that

Accepted Answer

Theodulf of Orléans supported the use of sacred art for commemoration or decoration and considered it heretical to worship or destroy such art. This aligns with choice C.

Question 15

One of the main features of the West after the collapse of Rome was its

Accepted Answer

After the collapse of Rome, the West experienced a shift towards agricultural economies as trade and commerce declined. Cities shrank, and people relied more heavily on subsistence farming. As a result, the economy in the West became primarily agricultural-based.

Question 16

Which church commissioned by Justinian was profoundly influential,due both to its sheer size and for being the ideal example of a dome placed on a square or elongated nave?

Accepted Answer

The church commissioned by Justinian that was profoundly influential due to its sheer size and being the ideal example of a dome placed on a square or elongated nave is the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The other options mentioned (San Vitale in Ravenna, Sant' Apollinare in Classe, and Dafni near Athens) were also significant churches during the Byzantine Empire, but they do not fit the specific criteria mentioned in the question.

Question 17

What is the most important contribution of Photius's Library?

Accepted Answer

Photius's Library contains the only surviving extracts from a number of ancient works, many of which would otherwise be lost to history.

Question 18

Which tenth-century emperor wrote the two treatises On Ceremonies and On the Administration of the Empire?

Accepted Answer

Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus wrote the two treatises On Ceremonies and On the Administration of the Empire in the tenth century.

Question 19

The works of the female author Dhuoda are significant primarily because

Accepted Answer

Dhuoda's works are significant because they demonstrate that she was highly educated, which was uncommon for women in the ninth century. Her writings provide insight into the education and intellectual capabilities of women during that time.

Question 20

The Institutes by Cassiodorus can be best described as

Accepted Answer

Cassiodorus' "Institutes" is a guide to Christian learning, listing important texts and commentaries on religious and secular matters.

Quiz 8: The Heirs to the Roman Empire: Byzantium and the West in the Early Middle Ages