Question 1

Although the Iconoclastic Controversy was eventually resolved,its lasting effects included the:
A) sale or handing over of Byzantine portraits to the Muslims.
B) destruction of nearly all pre-eighth-century religious art in the Byzantine empire.
C) adoption of conservative clothing styles by nobles and common people.
D) gradual acceptance of religious diversity in the East.
E) banning of all monastic orders within the Byzantine empire.

Accepted Answer

During the Iconoclastic Controversy, there was a widespread destruction of religious icons and artwork that continued for many years. While some art was preserved or hidden from destruction, much of the pre-eighth-century religious art in the Byzantine Empire was lost.

Question 2

The pandemic known as Justinian's plague spread rapidly through the eastern and western part of the Roman Empire because it:
A) was a very virulent strain of smallpox.
B) was carried by birds who migrated great distances.
C) traveled along well-established trade routes both within and outside the empire.
D) had a very long incubation period, which meant people could travel long distances without knowing they were infecting people.
E) was exacerbated by an epidemic of influenza in the empire.

Accepted Answer

The pandemic spread rapidly through both the eastern and western parts of the Roman Empire because it traveled along well-established trade routes both within and outside the empire. This facilitated the spread of the disease from person to person and from place to place.

Question 3

Leo III's support of iconoclasm may have been driven by a desire to:
A) make churches more beautiful.
B) strengthen the emperor's control over the Church at the expense of monastic control.
C) strengthen monastic control over the Church at the expense of the bureaucratic control.
D) encourage artisans to produce books rather than images.
E) encourage Orthodox Christians to follow some of the tenets of Islam.

Accepted Answer

Leo III supported iconoclasm as a means to centralize his power over the Church and weaken the influence of the monastic class. He believed that the use of icons and religious images gave too much power to the Church and the monasteries, and he sought to assert the imperial authority over religious affairs.

Question 4

The word Islam means:
A) pilgrimage.
B) migration.
C) submission.
D) recitation.
E) prayer.

Accepted Answer

The word Islam is derived from the Arabic word "aslama", which means "to submit" or "to surrender". In a religious context, Islam means submission to the will of Allah (God) and adherence to His commandments as revealed in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Question 5

The early Byzantine religion was known for its:
A) intense interest in matters of doctrine and orthodoxy.
B) beautifully decorated churches.
C) rejection of the emperor as the leader of the Church.
D) ability to enforce religious doctrine throughout the eastern empire.
E) doctrinal merging of elements from Christianity and Islam.

Accepted Answer

The early Byzantine religion was characterized by a strong focus on doctrinal purity and orthodoxy, often leading to intense theological debates and councils to define and defend the correct beliefs.

Question 6

The  contains:
A) the revelations sent by God to Muhammad.
B) Christian teaching about Christ's divinity.
C) excerpts from the Hebrew Torah.
D) a detailed plan for the expansion of Islam after Muhammad's death.
E) the sole guide for behavior for converts to Islam.

Accepted Answer

The code 11ea1b2e_6787_30bb_8ec1_0123a3ee7bf6_TB3325_11 is commonly associated with the Quran, which is the Islamic holy book containing revelations sent by God to the Prophet Muhammad.

Question 7

Justinian's longest lasting reform was the:
A) creation of a standing Roman army.
B) organization and codification of Roman law.
C) construction of the Coliseum.
D) adoption of Christianity.
E) publication of a series of books about Roman history.

Accepted Answer

Justinian's longest lasting reform was the organization and codification of Roman law. This became known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, and its influence can still be seen in modern legal systems worldwide.

Question 8

Women from wealthy Byzantine families:
A) did not receive classical educations, since they were destined for domestic life.
B) could read but were not allowed to write history, novels, or poetry.
C) were educated at home by tutors, but did engage in more public intellectual discussions.
D) were encouraged by parents to become actresses and singers like the Empress Theodora.
E) were educated in the public schools alongside the men.

Accepted Answer

Women from wealthy Byzantine families were educated at home by tutors and engaged in intellectual discussions, although they were not allowed to participate in public life or write history, novels, or poetry. They were expected to focus on domestic duties and marriage, but education was still highly valued in Byzantine society. Public education was primarily available to men.

Question 9

It is difficult to date the beginning of Byzantine history with precision because:
A) Constantine never administered the Roman Empire from Constantinople.
B) Greek was the only language ever used by Roman emperors in Constantinople.
C) the Byzantine empire considered itself the uninterrupted successor of the Roman Empire.
D) Justinian resisted new forms of thought and art throughout his life.
E) it began during the so-called Dark Ages during which very few records were kept.

Accepted Answer

The Byzantine Empire considered itself to be the uninterrupted successor of the Roman Empire, so there was no clear beginning point for Byzantine history as it was seen as a continuation of Roman history.

Question 10

In their worship of Allah,Muslims worship:
A) the Prophet Muhammad.
B) the angel Gabriel.
C) the same deity worshiped by Christians and Jews.
D) a pantheon of gods.
E) the same deities worshiped by Hindus.

Accepted Answer

Muslims worship the same deity as Christians and Jews, known as Allah in Arabic. They also believe in other prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, but they do not worship them. The worship of multiple deities or a pantheon of gods is not a part of Islam. Likewise, the worship of Hindu deities is not part of Islamic belief.

Question 11

In Byzantine schools,classical Greek literature was:
A) considered pagan and suspect, and so was read only with great reluctance.
B) the basis of the curriculum, with much study of the epics of Homer.
C) out of fashion, because people preferred to read the easier Greek of the Bible.
D) regarded as useless and impractical, but not offensive to Christian sensibilities.
E) not studied: Byzantium thought of itself as the heir of Rome and so read Latin classics.

Accepted Answer

In Byzantine schools, classical Greek literature was the basis of the curriculum, with much study of the epics of Homer. Byzantine educators believed that a thorough knowledge of the Greek classics, along with biblical texts and commentaries, was essential for producing well-educated leaders and citizens.

Question 12

The Iconoclastic Controversy of the eighth century C.E.was about:
A) the biblical laws forbidding "the work of Satan" on Sundays.
B) Emperor Leo's decision to stop wearing the toga, the symbol of imperial manhood.
C) the impossibility of smashing all the pagan idols, so some were allowed to remain.
D) the use or prohibition of images in church, where people might worship the objects.
E) prohibition of the display of the crucifix in Byzantine churches.

Accepted Answer

The Iconoclastic Controversy of the eighth century C.E. was primarily about the use or prohibition of images in church, where people might worship the objects. Some believed that the use of icons was idolatrous and violated biblical laws, while others argued that they were necessary aids to worship and veneration. The controversy resulted in the fracturing of the Church and contributed to the eventual split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Question 13

Between 610 and 1071,the major security threats to the Byzantine empire came from:
A) Persia, then Egypt.
B) Persia, then the Islamic caliphate.
C) Persia, then the Turks.
D) Persia, then the Slavs.
E) the Western Roman Empire.

Accepted Answer

Between 610 and 1071, the major security threats to the Byzantine empire came from Persia followed by the Islamic caliphate. The Byzantine-Persian Wars (602-628) weakened both empires and made them vulnerable to the Islamic conquests of the 7th century. The Arab-Islamic armies under the Rashidun and Umayyad caliphates conquered Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and North Africa, which were previously Byzantine territories. The Byzantine empire faced constant warfare and raids from the Islamic caliphate until the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 when the Seljuk Turks defeated the Byzantine army and gained control of Anatolia. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 14

By the late sixth century C.E.,the economy of Arabia was:
A) in a state of crisis brought on by the wars between Byzantium and Persia.
B) commercially sophisticated and was intersected by many trade routes.
C) still almost entirely made up of nomadic Bedouins.
D) based on the production of figs, wool, and goats at desert oases.
E) practically nonexistent due to Arabia's domination by the Byzantine empire.

Accepted Answer

The economy of Arabia by the late sixth century C.E. was commercially sophisticated and intersected by many trade routes, including those connecting Arabia to East Africa, India, and China. This was due to the growth of cities and the increased trade in luxury goods, such as spices, silk, and gold.

Question 15

The Hijrah (Hegira)refers to the Prophet Muhammad's move from:
A) Medina to Mecca.
B) Mecca to Quadratic.
C) Medina to Quadratic.
D) Quadratic to Mecca.
E) Mecca to Medina.

Accepted Answer

The Hijrah refers to the Prophet Muhammad's move from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. This was a pivotal event in Islamic history, as it marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the establishment of the first Muslim community in Medina.

Question 16

Why did Justinian try to reconquer the Western Roman Empire?
A) because the Persians had been defeated in the East, so he could safely launch military expeditions to the West
B) because his empire required continuing conquests in order to prosper
C) because he sought to revive and reconstruct wholly the old empire
D) because he needed to keep his army as far away from his capital as possible
E) because he believed that he should be the head of a unified Christian Church

Accepted Answer

Justinian sought to revive and reconstruct the old empire wholly, including the Western Roman Empire. He believed that a unified empire was necessary for the prosperity and security of the Byzantine Empire.

Question 17

Why did Justinian's reconquest of the Western Roman Empire fail?
A) Justinian codified Roman law, which made a permanent merger impossible.
B) Western Christians no longer felt kinship with eastern Christians, and they fought against Justinian from within.
C) The costs associated with conquering and defending the vast western empire were too great given Justinian's military commitments elsewhere.
D) Constantinople fell to Persian invaders and brought an end to the Eastern Roman Empire.
E) Justinian was forced to withdraw his army to meet the mounting Islamic threat from the south.

Accepted Answer

The costs associated with reconquering and defending the vast western empire were simply too great given Justinian's military commitments elsewhere. Justinian was simultaneously fighting wars against the Persians in the east and financing ambitious building projects in Constantinople. The strain on the empire's resources was significant and unsustainable, and this ultimately prevented Justinian from retaining control of his newly reconquered western territories.

Question 18

The Byzantine economy in the early Middle Ages was:
A) highly regulated, including wage and price controls.
B) subject to wild fluctuations due to currency debasement.
C) industrially underdeveloped.
D) renowned for its use of paper money.
E) depressed due to being cut off from trade with northern Europe.

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

The Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia was influential in the history of architecture because it:
A) was constructed in a way that made light appear to come from directly above.
B) placed a massive dome on a building with a square shape.
C) was highly innovative in its external appearance and marble embellishment.
D) was the first Christian church converted into a mosque.
E) was the first building constructed completely from concrete.

Accepted Answer

The Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia was influential in the history of architecture because it placed a massive dome on a building with a square shape. The technique used to support the dome led to the development of new architectural styles that were later used in the construction of other important buildings, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Question 20

The stability of Byzantine government was the product of:
A) a highly centralized palace government.
B) a predictable system of succession to the imperial throne.
C) an efficient bureaucracy.
D) regulated wages and prices.
E) a ruthlessly effective army.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The stability of Byzantine government was the...

Quiz 7: Rome’s Three Heirs,500–950

Although the Iconoclastic Controversy was eventually resolved,its lasting effects included the:

The pandemic known as Justinian's plague spread rapidly through the eastern and western part of the Roman Empire because it:

Leo III's support of iconoclasm may have been driven by a desire to:

The word Islam means:

The early Byzantine religion was known for its:

The contains:

Justinian's longest lasting reform was the:

Women from wealthy Byzantine families:

It is difficult to date the beginning of Byzantine history with precision because:

In their worship of Allah,Muslims worship:

In Byzantine schools,classical Greek literature was:

The Iconoclastic Controversy of the eighth century C.E.was about:

Between 610 and 1071,the major security threats to the Byzantine empire came from:

By the late sixth century C.E.,the economy of Arabia was:

The Hijrah (Hegira) refers to the Prophet Muhammad's move from:

Why did Justinian try to reconquer the Western Roman Empire?

Why did Justinian's reconquest of the Western Roman Empire fail?

The Byzantine economy in the early Middle Ages was:

The Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia was influential in the history of architecture because it:

The stability of Byzantine government was the product of: