The Byzantine Empire Quiz

Grade 6 · Social Studies · Quiz

Test your knowledge of the Byzantine Empire — its rulers, culture, and lasting legacy.

Questions

  1. The Byzantine Empire was essentially the continuation of which earlier empire?

    1. Greek Empire
    2. Persian Empire
    3. Eastern Roman Empire
    4. Ottoman Empire
    Show answer

    Answer: Eastern Roman Empire

    The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire — when Rome fell in the west, the east kept going with the same Roman institutions.

  2. Emperor Constantine founded Constantinople in 330 CE.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Constantine moved the Roman capital to Byzantium in 330 CE and renamed it Constantinople ('city of Constantine').

  3. What was the Justinian Code?

    1. A military strategy guide
    2. A collection of Roman laws reformed under Emperor Justinian
    3. A religious text of the Orthodox Church
    4. A trade agreement with Persia
    Show answer

    Answer: A collection of Roman laws reformed under Emperor Justinian

    The Justinian Code (Corpus Juris Civilis) organized all Roman law into one system and shaped the legal traditions of France, Spain, and much of Europe.

  4. The Byzantine Empire finally fell in the year ___ CE.

    Show answer

    Answer: 1453

    The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople on May 29, 1453, ending 1,000+ years of Byzantine history.

  5. The Hagia Sophia was originally built as a:

    1. Palace for the emperor
    2. Market for traders
    3. Christian cathedral
    4. Military fortress
    Show answer

    Answer: Christian cathedral

    Justinian built the Hagia Sophia as the greatest church in Christendom; it was converted to a mosque in 1453 and is now a museum/mosque.

  6. The Byzantine Empire primarily spoke Latin as its official language.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    While early Byzantines used Latin, Greek became the official language by around 620 CE under Emperor Heraclius.

  7. Byzantine scholars made a major contribution to the Renaissance by:

    1. Inventing the printing press
    2. Preserving ancient Greek and Roman texts
    3. Discovering new sea routes
    4. Building universities in Italy
    Show answer

    Answer: Preserving ancient Greek and Roman texts

    Byzantine scholars fleeing the Ottoman conquest brought manuscripts of ancient Greek and Roman texts to Italy, helping spark the Renaissance.

  8. The Byzantine secret weapon that burned even on water was called ___ fire.

    Show answer

    Answer: Greek

    Greek fire was a closely guarded secret — a flammable liquid projected through bronze tubes that ignited on contact with water.

  9. Which sultan led the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453?

    1. Suleiman the Magnificent
    2. Saladin
    3. Mehmed II
    4. Timur
    Show answer

    Answer: Mehmed II

    Sultan Mehmed II was just 21 years old when he conquered Constantinople in 1453, using massive cannons to breach the famous Theodosian Walls.

  10. Orthodox Christianity spread from the Byzantine Empire to Eastern Europe and Russia.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius spread Christianity to Slavic peoples and created the Cyrillic alphabet still used in Russian and Bulgarian today.

Get a personalized course on The Byzantine Empire built around your child.