The Byzantine Empire Flashcards
Grade 6 · Social Studies · Flashcards
Essential vocabulary for the Byzantine Empire — rulers, achievements, and legacy.
Flashcards
- Byzantine Empire
- The Eastern Roman Empire (330–1453 CE), centered in Constantinople; preserved Roman and Greek culture.
- Constantinople
- Byzantine capital at the junction of Europe and Asia; modern-day Istanbul, Turkey.
- Emperor Constantine
- Roman emperor who moved the capital to Constantinople in 330 CE and legalized Christianity.
- Justinian I
- Byzantine emperor (527–565 CE) who reformed law, reconquered western lands, and built the Hagia Sophia.
- Justinian Code
- A unified collection of Roman laws that became the foundation of legal systems throughout Europe.
- Hagia Sophia
- The great domed cathedral of Constantinople built in 537 CE; one of the world's greatest architectural achievements.
- Greek fire
- A secret Byzantine incendiary weapon — a liquid that burned on water — used to defeat enemy navies.
- Theodosian Walls
- Massive triple walls protecting Constantinople from land attacks; they held for over 1,000 years.
- Orthodox Christianity
- The form of Christianity centered in Constantinople, distinct from Rome; spread to Eastern Europe and Russia.
- Schism of 1054
- The split between the Roman Catholic Church (west) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (east).
- Ottoman Empire
- The Turkish Muslim empire that conquered Constantinople in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire.
- Mehmed II
- Ottoman sultan who conquered Constantinople in 1453 at age 21, ending the Byzantine Empire.
- Cyrillic alphabet
- Writing system created by Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius, used today in Russian and other Slavic languages.
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