1. What was Emperor Justinian's main goal when he sent his armies to conquer lands in Italy and North Africa?
- A. To find new sources of gold and silver.
- B. To bring back the glory of the old Roman Empire.
- C. To create a defensive barrier against the Persians.
- D. To establish new trade partnerships with western kingdoms.
2. Why did Emperor Justinian feel it was necessary to reform the Byzantine Empire's laws?
- A. To introduce Greek laws to the empire.
- B. The existing laws were disorganized and confusing.
- C. To create special new laws for the military.
- D. To adopt the legal traditions of the Persian Empire.
3. The construction of the Hagia Sophia was one of Justinian's major achievements. What was this building's primary purpose?
- A. A military fortress to defend the harbor.
- B. A large church that served as a religious center.
- C. The main palace where the emperor and his family lived.
- D. The law school where scholars wrote the Justinian Code.
4. What was the most significant long-term impact of the Justinian Code?
- A. It was quickly forgotten after Justinian's death.
- B. It mainly dealt with military regulations and strategy.
- C. It became the foundation for many later legal systems in the West.
- D. It applied only to the city of Constantinople and not the wider empire.
5. What was a major reason that the Byzantine Empire lost control of the western territories Justinian had conquered?
- A. The army was needed to stop rebellions in Constantinople.
- B. The empire lacked the funds and soldiers to defend the vast new territories.
- C. A peace treaty required returning the land to its former owners.
- D. The newly conquered people refused to become Christians.
6. Which statement best describes the unique culture that developed in the Byzantine Empire?
- A. It was a continuation of Roman culture with no changes.
- B. It was a blend of Roman government, Greek language, and Christian beliefs.
- C. It completely abandoned Roman traditions in favor of Persian customs.
- D. It was a revival of ancient Greek society and rejected Roman ideas.
7. What was a major cultural shift that took place in the Byzantine Empire over time?
- A. The official language changed from Latin to Greek.
- B. The system of Roman law was completely replaced.
- C. Chariot racing was outlawed by the emperors.
- D. The capital was moved back to the city of Rome.
8. While the Byzantine Empire developed its own identity, which important feature did it inherit from the Roman Empire?
- A. Its dominant Greek language
- B. Its popular mosaics and art style
- C. Its system of laws and government
- D. Its close relationship with Persia
9. The identity of the Byzantine civilization was most strongly shaped by which cultural influence?
- A. Egyptian
- B. Persian
- C. Slavic
- D. Greek
10. How did the Byzantine Empire's location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia affect its culture?
- A. It isolated the empire from all outside contact.
- B. It forced the empire to adopt only Roman traditions.
- C. It helped create a blended culture with a unique identity.
- D. It weakened the empire by preventing trade.