Byzantine Empire Quiz

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Date:

Instructions: Discover the eastern half of the Roman Empire that thrived for over a thousand years — the magnificent Byzantine Empire.

1.
What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire?
A
Alexandria
B
Constantinople
C
Rome
D
Athens
2.
Which Roman emperor established Constantinople as the new eastern capital in 330 AD?
A
Theodosius I
B
Diocletian
C
Constantine the Great
D
Justinian I
3.
What famous cathedral, built by Justinian I, became a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture?
A
Notre-Dame
B
St. Peter's Basilica
C
Hagia Sophia
D
The Pantheon
4.
What legal code, compiled under Emperor Justinian I, preserved Roman law for future generations?
A
The Code of Hammurabi
B
The Justinian Code
C
The Twelve Tables
D
Magna Carta
5.
What devastating secret weapon did the Byzantine navy use against enemy ships?
A
Greek fire
B
Catapults
C
Battering rams
D
Gunpowder
6.
In what year did Constantinople finally fall to the Ottoman Turks?
A
1204
B
1492
C
1389
D
1453
7.
What type of religious artwork, made from small colored tiles or glass pieces, was the Byzantines especially famous for?
A
Frescoes
B
Mosaics
C
Woodcuts
D
Oil paintings
8.
What major religious split of 1054 divided Christianity into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches?
A
The Protestant Reformation
B
The Council of Nicaea
C
The Avignon Papacy
D
The Great Schism
9.
Which powerful empress was the wife of Justinian I and a major political influence?
A
Anna Comnena
B
Irene of Athens
C
Theodora
D
Zoe
10.
What was the primary language of the Byzantine Empire in its later centuries?
A
Greek
B
Turkish
C
Arabic
D
Latin
11.
Which Crusade infamously sacked Constantinople in 1204 instead of fighting Muslims?
A
The Fourth Crusade
B
The Third Crusade
C
The First Crusade
D
The Second Crusade
12.
What was the Hippodrome of Constantinople primarily used for?
A
Gladiatorial combat
B
Religious ceremonies
C
Theatre performances
D
Chariot racing
13.
What modern city stands on the site of ancient Constantinople?
A
Bucharest
B
Athens
C
Istanbul
D
Ankara
14.
Which Ottoman sultan conquered Constantinople in 1453?
A
Bayezid I
B
Mehmed II
C
Osman I
D
Suleiman the Magnificent
15.
What precious trade commodity did the Byzantines jealously guard the secret of producing?
A
Porcelain
B
Paper
C
Gunpowder
D
Silk

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