Unit 2: Byzantine Empire

Which social reform did Justinian implement?

• Improved women's legal rights

• Created a new tax system

• Built public hospitals

• Abolished slavery

Which phrase best summarizes the significance of the Hagia Sophia?

• Largest royal palace built for a Byzantine emperor

• Largest church in the Byzantine Empire

• Most elaborate tomb for a Byzantine ruler

• Strongest military fort in the Byzantine Empire

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

Which geographical feature made Constantinople particularly defensible?

• Mountains surrounding the city

• The Golden Horn inlet and Bosphorus Strait

• Dense forest coverage

• Natural wall formations

How did Constantinople's location help preserve European culture during the Middle Ages?

• By preventing Viking invasions

• By maintaining trade with northern Europe

• By serving as a barrier between Europe and hostile forces

• By controlling access to the Atlantic Ocean

Which language became the official language of the Byzantine Empire by the 7th century?

• Latin

• Greek

• Arabic

• Hebrew

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

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

What role did Constantinople's geography play in trade?

• It blocked trade with Asia

• It connected river routes to the ocean

• It provided natural harbors for ships

• It served as a bridge between Europe and Asia

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