Question 1

In the eleventh century, the Byzantine emperor, Basil 2, blinded fourteen thousand soldiers of the
A)Muslims.
B)Vikings.
C)Russians.
D)Bulgars.
E)Franks.

Accepted Answer

Basil 2 blinded 14,000 Bulgar soldiers after defeating them in the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 CE. This was known as the "Blinding of the Bulgars" and was a brutal tactic used to incapacitate enemy soldiers without killing them.

Question 2

As a result of the Fourth Crusade, the West established a permanent political presence in the Byzantine Empire.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

The Byzantine theme
A)combined military and civil authority in one person.
B)was a military strategy relying upon Greek fire.
C)was the time, or the theme, during which the Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Byzantine Empire.
D)was a self-sufficient organization of peasants in Anatolia.
E)was the master plan for the rebuilding Constantinople under Justinian.

Accepted Answer

The Byzantine theme was a system of organizing regions of the Byzantine Empire under a single military commander who also held civil authority. This person was responsible for both the defense and administration of their region, combining military and civil authority in one person.

Question 4

The l'uomo universale was the ideal of the Renaissance, and was a person who was capable of achievements in many areas of life.

Accepted Answer

The l'uomo universale, or Renaissance man, was indeed a person who was considered capable of achieving excellence in various fields, including art, literature, science, and politics. This was a highly valued ideal during the Renaissance period.

Question 5

The spread of goods and people along the Silk Road helped facilitate the spread of the plague.​

Accepted Answer

The movement of people and goods along the Silk Road during the 14th century allowed for the spread of the plague from Central Asia to Europe, ultimately leading to the devastating outbreak known as the Black Death.

Question 6

At the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the
A)Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantines.
B)Byzantines defeated the Normans.
C)Byzantines defeated the Seljuk Turks.
D)crusaders conquered Constantinople.
E)Ottoman Turks defeated the Byzantines.

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Manzikert was fought between the Seljuk Turks and the Byzantine Empire, and the Seljuks were victorious.

Question 7

The Photian schism
A)abolished the use of icons.
B)resulted in the excommunication of the Pope by the Patriarch.
C)led to the reunion of the Roman and Orthodox churches.
D)established the interdict in the Roman church.
E)divided Arabs from Persians, a split that continues to the present.

Accepted Answer

The Photian schism occurred in the 9th century and resulted in the excommunication of the Pope by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Photios. The main point of contention was the Pope's appointment of a bishop in Bulgaria without consulting the Patriarch. The schism marked a significant rift between the Eastern and Western churches, with lasting consequences to this day. None of the other options accurately describe the Photian schism.

Question 8

Justinian's most lasting accomplishment was
A)his victory over the Ostrogoths.
B)his defeat of the Muslim armies outside Constantinople.
C)the Corpus Iuris Civilis.
D)his victory over the Nika rioters.
E)the construction of Notre Dame.

Accepted Answer

The Corpus Iuris Civilis (Body of Civil Law) was a massive collection of Roman law compiled and codified under the direction of Justinian. It became the foundation of civil law in Western Europe and was widely influential in shaping legal systems throughout the world. It remains one of Justinian's most significant and lasting accomplishments.

Question 9

The Orthodox Church had its greatest missionary success with the
A)Poles.
B)Czechs.
C)Russians.
D)Arabs.
E)Mongols.

Accepted Answer

The Orthodox Church had its greatest missionary success with the Russians, who adopted Eastern Orthodoxy as their state religion in the late 10th century under the rule of Vladimir the Great. The Orthodox Church played a significant role in shaping Russian society and culture, and its influence spread to other Slavic countries as well. While the Orthodox Church did have some success in converting other groups such as the Mongols, their impact was not as significant as with the Russians.

Question 10

The Italian city that benefited from the Fourth Crusade was
A)Rome.
B)Venice.
C)Florence.
D)Naples.
E)Genoa.

Accepted Answer

The Fourth Crusade was diverted from its original goal of retaking Jerusalem and ended up attacking Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Venice provided the ships for the Crusaders and as a result, gained significant power and influence over the eastern Mediterranean. Venice also gained a share of the plunder from the sacked city of Constantinople, which greatly enriched the city and helped fund its growth as a center of trade and commerce.

Question 11

During the Nika Revolts, Justinian and Theodora fled the city to avoid being​ overthrown.

Accepted Answer

Justinian and Theodora didn't flee the city, they stayed and were able to suppress the revolt with the help of their generals Belisarius and Mundus.

Question 12

Rome was the largest city in Europe in the Middle Ages.

Accepted Answer

Rome was not the largest city in Europe in the Middle Ages. Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) was the largest city during that time period, with a population estimated to be between 400,000 to 500,000 people in the 12th century.

Question 13

In the seventh century, the greatest danger to the Byzantine Empire came from the
A)Slavs.
B)Muslims.
C)Persians.
D)Bulgars.
E)Ostrogoths.

Accepted Answer

In the seventh century, the Byzantine Empire faced a significant threat from the Muslims, who were rapidly expanding their territories and conquering neighboring lands. The Arabs had already conquered much of the Sassanid Persian Empire and were moving westward, challenging the Byzantines for control of the eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. While the Byzantines also faced threats from other groups, including the Bulgars and Slavs, the Muslim threat was arguably the greatest and most immediate danger.

Question 14

The major threat to the Byzantine Empire in the eleventh century came from the
A)Arabs.
B)Seljuk Turks.
C)Ottoman Turks.
D)Austrians.
E)Persians.

Accepted Answer

The major threat to the Byzantine Empire in the eleventh century came from the Seljuk Turks, a powerful Turkish tribe that migrated to the region that is now Iran and spread throughout the Islamic world. They eventually conquered much of the Byzantine Empire's Anatolian territory and threatened Constantinople itself. The other options either do not apply to the eleventh century or are not historically accurate.

Question 15

The best known Byzantine historian was
A)Einhard.
B)Tacitus.
C)Suetonious.
D)Belisarius.
E)Procopius.

Accepted Answer

Procopius is considered the best known Byzantine historian, as he wrote extensively about the reigns of Justinian and Theodora. His works, including "The Secret History," provided valuable insight into Byzantine society and politics during the 6th century.

Question 16

The most serious threat to Justinian's rule came from the
A)Greens and the Blues.
B)crusaders.
C)Muslims.
D)Bulgars.
E)Ostrogoths.

Accepted Answer

The Greens and the Blues were chariot racing factions in Constantinople that united in the Nika Riots, posing a significant threat to Justinian's rule by nearly overthrowing him.

Question 17

The appearance of the violent and destructive Mongol Empire ended all trade between the West and China.

Accepted Answer

The Mongol Empire actually opened up new trade routes between the West and China through the Silk Road and other trade networks. While the presence of the Mongols did lead to some disruption and violence, it ultimately facilitated increased trade and cultural exchange between Eurasia.

Question 18

The Byzantine Emperor Basil 2 was infamous for blinding over 14,000 Turkish troops before allowing them to return home.

Accepted Answer

Basil II was infamous for blinding 14,000 Bulgarian troops, not Turkish troops, after the Battle of Kleidion in 1014.

Question 19

In 1054, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church excommunicated each other in a dispute over papal primacy.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the Great Schism, when the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church split due to theological and political differences, including disagreements over the authority of the pope. The excommunications of 1054 symbolized a permanent separation between the two churches.

Question 20

Justinian's most significant accomplishment was in permanently reuniting the old Roman Empire.

Accepted Answer

Justinian's most significant accomplishment was the codification of Roman laws, known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, not permanently reuniting the old Roman Empire, as his territorial gains were largely temporary.

Quiz 13: The Byzantine Empire and Crisis and Recovery in the West

In the eleventh century, the Byzantine emperor, Basil 2, blinded fourteen thousand soldiers of the

As a result of the Fourth Crusade, the West established a permanent political presence in the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine theme

The l'uomo universale was the ideal of the Renaissance, and was a person who was capable of achievements in many areas of life.

The spread of goods and people along the Silk Road helped facilitate the spread of the plague.

At the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the

The Photian schism

Justinian's most lasting accomplishment was

The Orthodox Church had its greatest missionary success with the

The Italian city that benefited from the Fourth Crusade was

During the Nika Revolts, Justinian and Theodora fled the city to avoid being overthrown.

Rome was the largest city in Europe in the Middle Ages.

In the seventh century, the greatest danger to the Byzantine Empire came from the

The major threat to the Byzantine Empire in the eleventh century came from the

The best known Byzantine historian was

The most serious threat to Justinian's rule came from the

The appearance of the violent and destructive Mongol Empire ended all trade between the West and China.

The Byzantine Emperor Basil 2 was infamous for blinding over 14,000 Turkish troops before allowing them to return home.

In 1054, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church excommunicated each other in a dispute over papal primacy.

Justinian's most significant accomplishment was in permanently reuniting the old Roman Empire.

Quiz 13: The Byzantine Empire and Crisis and Recovery in the West

In the eleventh century, the Byzantine emperor, Basil 2, blinded fourteen thousand soldiers of the

As a result of the Fourth Crusade, the West established a permanent political presence in the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine theme

The l'uomo universale was the ideal of the Renaissance, and was a person who was capable of achievements in many areas of life.

The spread of goods and people along the Silk Road helped facilitate the spread of the plague.​

At the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, the

The Photian schism

Justinian's most lasting accomplishment was

The Orthodox Church had its greatest missionary success with the

The Italian city that benefited from the Fourth Crusade was

During the Nika Revolts, Justinian and Theodora fled the city to avoid being​ overthrown.

Rome was the largest city in Europe in the Middle Ages.

In the seventh century, the greatest danger to the Byzantine Empire came from the

The major threat to the Byzantine Empire in the eleventh century came from the

The best known Byzantine historian was

The most serious threat to Justinian's rule came from the

The appearance of the violent and destructive Mongol Empire ended all trade between the West and China.

The Byzantine Emperor Basil 2 was infamous for blinding over 14,000 Turkish troops before allowing them to return home.

In 1054, the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church excommunicated each other in a dispute over papal primacy.

Justinian's most significant accomplishment was in permanently reuniting the old Roman Empire.

The spread of goods and people along the Silk Road helped facilitate the spread of the plague.

During the Nika Revolts, Justinian and Theodora fled the city to avoid being overthrown.