Ch. 14 Review Sheet
Answer the following questions in your notebooks or on note cards
1. How did the location of Constantinople make it a center of trade?
Location contributed to the strength of the Byzantine Empire in two ways. First it was located at
the crossroads of Europe and Asia and just north of Africa which made it a center of trade.
Second, being located on the Mediterranean Sea numerous cultures would travel to the city
through sea routes.
2. Describe the rule of Justinian. What did he accomplish?
Justinian accomplished much during his reign. He codified laws based on the decisions of
Roman judges, made the Hagia Sophia, brought the empire to its greatest height. These
accomplishments helped to preserve ancient Greek and Roman traditions that still survive today.
3. How did Theodora contribute to the rule of the Byzantine Empire?
 Negotiated with Persians to keep a peace treaty
 Gave help to victims of an earthquake
 Spoke up for women’s rights’
 Built hospitals for the poor
4. What is the significance of Justinian codifying laws?
This brought law and order to the empire. It allowed citizens to know what they could and could
not do. Also if a law was broken, penalties were set to fit the crime.
5. What was the legacy or heritage of the Byzantine Empire? What did they preserve / leave
behind?
The legacy of the Byzantine Empire was what it left behind. They preserved ancient Greek and
Roman texts. Justinian’s Code is the basis of many European codes of justice. Today much of its
architecture survives such as the Hagia Sophia. Finally Byzantine Christianity is preserved in the
Orthodox Christians churches of the world.
6. What was the Great Schism and how did it impact Christianity?
The Great Schism was a permanent split within the Roman Catholic Church that occurred in the
11th century ce. It created a new Christian church called the Eastern Orthodox Church.
7. Why did the Great Schism occur?
The split between the churches was caused by both religious differences and a
struggle for power. For example, Byzantine Christians believed the practice of
worshipping icons was outlawed by the Bible as idol worship. Catholics believed
that they could access God through the icons and therefore it was not idol worship.
Also Popes and Byzantine emperors fought for control of Christians within the
Byzantine Empire. Popes felt they were the descendants of the apostle Peter, whom
Jesus put in charge of continuing the church after He was gone. Byzantine
emperors felt that they were in control of the Christians in their empire, not the
Pope.
*. How was the EOC different than the RCC?
x
Roman Catholic
Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Leader
Pope
Byzantine Emperor
Clergy
Could not marry
Could marry
Language
Latin
Greek
Holiday
Christmas
Easter
Location
Rome
Constantinople