Rome Reading pt 2

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Day 7:

1. Explain why Constantinople was strategically and economically important.

Its location had natural and man-made barriers that protected it from attack: the Golden Horn harbor to the north, the Sea of Marmara to the south, the Bosphorus strait to the east, and the Theodosian Walls to the west.

By collecting custom duties from the passing traders between Europe and Asia, it had a reliable revenue that funded an army, public buildings, and court culture.

2. Describe Emperor Justinian’s major achievements anfd their lasting significance.

Justianian’s Code: Justanian updated and reorganized the whole body of Roman law, which later became the foundation for legal systems throughout the world and its influence is second to the Bible.

Hagia Sophia: an Orthodox Christian church that was used for nearly a thousand years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

3. Analyze why the Byznatine Empire lasted 1,000 after the fall of the Wesern Roman Empire.

The main reasons are economy and order. Its geographic location was in the way of trade between Europe and Asia, and by demanding custom duties, the empire had an almost infinite source of income to fund the army and public buildings. Through Justanian’s Code, the Roman law was both updated and reorganized, giving the Byzantine Empire a proper body of laws and legal culture.

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Day 8:

1. Describe the key features of Byzantine civilization, include art, religion, and trade.

Byzantine art is known for its use of mosaics to make images of Christian figures and emperors. These icons showed the Byzantine religion of Orthodox Christianity, in which the emperor had power over certain decisions and was considered to be a representative of God on Earth. Lastly, the Byzantine empire relied on trade to expand its wealth. The city of Constantinople was in the center of the Silk Road, allowing for trade of a variety of items.

2. Explain the significnce of Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Byzantine identity.

The Eastern Orthodox Christianity shaped how the emperor was seen: God’s representative rather than a political leader. It also influenced art, as mosaics depicted Christian figures, and combined politics through the authority of the emperor, which is knwon as Caesaropapism.

3. Evaluate the Byzantine Empire’s long-term contributions to world history.

The Byzantine Empire developed Orthodox Christianity, a religion that continues to be practiced today. Artists popularized the making of mosaics and the creation of Christian icons. Through the work of scholars, the classical knowledge from Greek scientists, philosophers and physicians was preserved, which was protected even after the fall of the empire.

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