Byzantine Law and Culture Overview

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Questions and Answers

What was the language in Rome?

Greek

What was the Justinian Code?

It was a single uniform code

What were the four sections of the code?

The Code, the Digest, the Institutes, the Novellae

Description of the code?

Contained nearly 5,000 Roman laws that were still considered useful by the Byzantine Empire Signup and view all the answers

Description of the Digest?

Quoted and summarized some of the opinions of Rome's greatest legal thinkers Signup and view all the answers

How many volumes were in the Digest?

50 Signup and view all the answers

Description of the Institutes?

Textbook that told law students how to use laws Signup and view all the answers

Description of the Novellae?

Presented legislation passed after 534 Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Code?

It decided legal questions that regulated whole areas of Byzantine life Signup and view all the answers

What does the Hagia Sophia mean?

"Holy Wisdom" Signup and view all the answers

What does Mese mean?

"Middle Way" Signup and view all the answers

What did Byzantine families value?

Education Signup and view all the answers

What was the Hippodrome?

Citizens could enjoy free entertainment which offered wild chariot races and performance acts Signup and view all the answers

Who was Belisarius?

Justinian's best general Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 reasons why Justinian could be called the new Caesar?

Rules almost all of Rome, conquered most of Italy and parts of Spain Signup and view all the answers

Who was Theodora?

Justinian's wife Signup and view all the answers

Who was involved in the Nika Rebellion?

Two fan groups Signup and view all the answers

Where was the Nika Rebellion?

Constantinople (Hippodrome) Signup and view all the answers

When was the Nika Rebellion?

532 Signup and view all the answers

Why did they have the Nika Rebellion?

The two fan groups were mad with the government. They felt the city officials had been too severe in putting down a previous riot of Hippodrome fans. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Nika Rebellion?

Belisarius broke in with his troops and slaughtered 30,000 rebels Signup and view all the answers

What were some consequences of Justinian's death?

Street fights, religious quarrels, palace intrigues, foreign dancers Signup and view all the answers

How many people died daily from the Plague of Justinian?

10,000 people Signup and view all the answers

What was the Plague of Justinian aka?

The bubonic plague Signup and view all the answers

When did the Plague of Justinian fade?

700s Signup and view all the answers

What strategies did the Byzantines use to retain power?

Bribes, diplomacy, political marriages, military powers Signup and view all the answers

What part of the Byzantine Empire held out the longest?

Constantinople Signup and view all the answers

Who finally conquered this area?

Ottoman Turks Signup and view all the answers

When did the Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople?

In 1453 Signup and view all the answers

Why did the church develop differently in the East and West?

It was because of the distance and lack of contact between regions Signup and view all the answers

What is the Patriarch?

Leading bishop of the East Signup and view all the answers

Who was one famous patriarch?

Saint John Chrysostom Signup and view all the answers

What are icons?

Religious images Signup and view all the answers

Who used icons?

Eastern Christians Signup and view all the answers

Why did they use icons?

To aid their devotions Signup and view all the answers

Who banned the use of icons?

Emperor Leo III Signup and view all the answers

Why did he ban the use of icons?

He viewed icons as idol worship Signup and view all the answers

What is excommunication?

Declared the emperor to be an outcast from the church Signup and view all the answers

Why did the pope excommunicate a Byzantine emperor?

Dispute over religious doctrine Signup and view all the answers

What were the two groups called after the split?

Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church Signup and view all the answers

When did the church officially split?

After the dispute of the pope and Byzantine emperor Signup and view all the answers

What was Justinian's biggest accomplishment?

Hagia Sophia Signup and view all the answers

Who had Belisarius' eyes cut out?

Justinian Signup and view all the answers

Why did he have his eyes cut out?

He did not want Belisarius to have any power Signup and view all the answers

How was Constantinople able to withstand invasion from the west?

Mout and two walls Signup and view all the answers

What is Mout?

Man-made 'river' Signup and view all the answers

How was Constantinople able to withstand invasion from the east?

Water Signup and view all the answers

What language did the Roman Catholic Church use?

Latin Signup and view all the answers

What language did the Orthodox Church use?

Greek Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Roman Catholic authority?

Pope Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Orthodox authority?

Patriarch of Constantinople Signup and view all the answers

In the Roman Catholic Church do priests marry?

False Signup and view all the answers

In the Orthodox Church do priests marry?

True Signup and view all the answers

In the Roman Catholic Church is divorce allowed?

False Signup and view all the answers

In the Orthodox Church is divorce allowed?

True Signup and view all the answers

What was the first time the church split?

1054 Signup and view all the answers

What are some similarities that both churches had?

Believe in gospels and Jesus, Sacrament, Priests and bishops Signup and view all the answers

What were some important structures of Constantinople?

Hagia Sophia, Emperor Palace Signup and view all the answers

What are some positive things Justinian did?

Took over a lot of land, good leader Signup and view all the answers

What are some negative things Justinian did?

He killed 30,000 people Signup and view all the answers

Why does Justinian reference Solomon when he visits the Hagia Sophia?

He references Solomon because he built a very nice church and he is saying he made a much grander and better one than him Signup and view all the answers

How does the Hagia Sophia look different compared to other Christian churches?

It looks different because it had many mosaics and many Islamic symbols Signup and view all the answers

Why was the Hagia Sophia turned into a mosque?

It was turned into a mosque because the Turks conquered Constantinople and changed it Signup and view all the answers

After Belisarius got his eyes cut out, what happened to him?

He became a beggar for the rest of his life Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language in Rome

Greek was the dominant language in Rome.

Justinian Code

A uniform legal framework formed to govern Byzantine society.
Consisted of four sections: the Code, the Digest, the Institutes, and the Novellae.

Structure of the Justinian Code

The Code: Nearly 5,000 Roman laws deemed useful by the Byzantine Empire.
The Digest: Summarized opinions from Rome’s top legal thinkers, encompassing 50 volumes.
The Institutes: A textbook designed to instruct law students on how to apply the laws.
The Novellae: Included legislation enacted after 534 AD.

Purpose of the Code

Regulated legal matters relevant to various aspects of Byzantine life.

Notable Structures

Hagia Sophia: Translates to "Holy Wisdom", an architectural wonder symbolizing Christian faith.
Mese: Means "middle way", referring to a central place in Byzantine culture.

Education and Entertainment

Byzantine families placed a high value on education.
The Hippodrome served as a venue for free entertainment, hosting thrilling chariot races and performances.

Key Figures

Belisarius: Justinian's most trusted general, known for his military prowess.
Theodora: The influential wife of Justinian.

Nika Rebellion

Occurred in 532 AD in the Hippodrome, fueled by discontent directed towards the government.
Resulted in a violent crackdown where Belisarius led troops to eliminate 30,000 rebels.

Aftermath of Justinian's Death

Posthumous turmoil included street violence, religious conflicts, and palace intrigue.
Foreign dancers became prominent in Byzantine society following his reign.

The Plague of Justinian

Also known as the Bubonic Plague, causing mass casualties with up to 10,000 deaths daily.
The outbreak persisted until the 700s.

Byzantine Strategies for Retaining Power

Employed bribes, diplomacy, political marriages, and military strength.

Byzantine Empire's Resilience

Constantinople was the last to fall, eventually conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Church Differences

The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church developed distinct practices due to geographical separation.
The leading bishop of the East is referred to as the Patriarch, with notable figures like Saint John Chrysostom.

Icons in Religion

Eastern Christians utilized icons for devotion, which caused controversy when Emperor Leo III banned them, viewing them as idol worship.

Church Schism

The Catholic Church excommunicated a Byzantine emperor due to doctrinal disputes, resulting in the split into the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church around 1054.

Key Differences between the Churches

Language: The Roman Catholic Church primarily used Latin, while the Orthodox Church used Greek.
Authority: The Pope held authority in the Catholic Church; the Orthodox Church was led by the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Marriage and Divorce: Catholic priests do not marry and do not permit divorce, contrasting with Orthodox practices that allow married priests and divorce.

Accomplishments and Controversies of Justinian

Accomplishments: Renowned for constructing Hagia Sophia and expanding Byzantine territories.
Controversies: Responsible for significant bloodshed during uprisings, including the massacre of 30,000 during the Nika rebellion.

Legacy of Belisarius

After falling out of favor, he was blinded on Justinian’s orders and lived as a beggar for the remainder of his life.

Architectural Distinction

Hagia Sophia featured ornate mosaics and Islamic symbols, differentiating it from other Christian churches.

Historical Significance

The Justinian Code laid foundational legal principles, while the cultural achievements of the Byzantine Empire left an enduring legacy.

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Description

This quiz covers key aspects of Byzantine law, including the structure and purpose of the Justinian Code. It also touches upon the significance of language, education, and notable architectural achievements such as Hagia Sophia. Test your knowledge on the intricate details of life in the Byzantine Empire.