Question 1

Justinian's most lasting achievements included

Accepted Answer

A)   the reconquest of the entire western empire.
B)   the replacement of Orthodox Christianity with monophysitism.
C)   lasting peace in the Balkans and Mesopotamia.
D)   Hagia Sophia and the Justinian Code.
E)   sharing power with Theodora. D

Question 2

Define the following terms: tetrarchy

Accepted Answer

The term "tetrarchy" refers to a form of government where power is divided among four individuals. The word itself is derived from the Greek words "tetra," meaning four, and "arch," meaning rule. This system was most notably implemented by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in AD 293 as a means to address the vastness and complexity of administering the expansive Roman Empire, as well as to provide a more efficient response to internal and external threats.

Under Diocletian's tetrarchy, the empire was divided into two halves, each ruled by an Augustus (senior emperor). Each Augustus then appointed a junior emperor, known as a Caesar, to rule under them and to succeed them in the event of death or retirement. This created a hierarchy of two Augusti and two Caesars, with each responsible for governing a specific quadrant of the empire. The intention was to ensure a smooth succession and to prevent the power struggles that had plagued the empire in the past.

The tetrarchy did not last long beyond Diocletian's reign. It began to crumble after his retirement in 305, as the system's inherent rivalries and the ambitions of different leaders led to civil wars. Constantine the Great eventually abolished the tetrarchy after he became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire in 324. Despite its short lifespan, the tetrarchy was an innovative attempt to manage the complexities of ruling a large and diverse empire.

Question 3

Define the following terms: Justinian

Accepted Answer

Justinian, often referred to as Justinian I or Justinian the Great, was a Byzantine emperor who reigned from 527 to 565 AD. He is best known for his ambitious project to codify Roman law, resulting in the Corpus Juris Civilis, which laid the foundation for modern civil law systems. This body of law, also known as the Justinian Code, was a collection and organization of existing Roman legal materials that included the Codex Justinianus, the Digesta or Pandectae, the Institutiones, and the Novellae Constitutiones.

Justinian's reign was marked by significant military campaigns aimed at reclaiming parts of the fallen Western Roman Empire, including North Africa, Italy, and parts of Spain. These efforts were led by his general, Belisarius. Despite initial successes, many of these territories were difficult to hold and were eventually lost after Justinian's death.

In addition to his legal and military endeavors, Justinian was also known for his extensive building program across the Byzantine Empire, the most famous of which is the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). This architectural marvel was constructed as a Christian cathedral and is renowned for its massive dome and ornate decorations.

Justinian's reign was also marked by religious and political challenges, including the Nika riots in 532 AD, which nearly cost him his throne, and controversies over Christian doctrine, particularly dealing with the Monophysite heresy, which was a point of contention within the Christian community of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Overall, Justinian's legacy is one of both grand achievement in law and architecture, as well as the controversial and often brutal methods by which he maintained his rule and attempted to restore the glory of the Roman Empire.

Question 4

Define the following terms: Arianism

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Question 5

Late Antiquity saw what trend in the countryside that continued into the Middle Ages?

Accepted Answer

A)   Both slavery and freedom declined, while tenants ( coloni )  increased.
B)   Economic difficulties increased slavery.
C)   German custom gradually granted all people freedom.
D)   Agriculture was abandoned in favor of herding and commerce.
E)   The number of small land owners grew.

Question 6

Define the following terms: Attila

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Question 7

In the Germanic kingdoms of the sixth century

Accepted Answer

A)   Latin persisted as the language of administration.
B)   the most common local officials were counts, originally direct representatives of the emperor.
C)   local administration remained based in cities and towns.
D)   Germanic peoples remained loyal to their kings who shared booty with his followers.
E)   All of these

Question 8

Define the following terms: eremitic monasticism

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Question 9

Define the following terms: Visigoths

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Question 10

Define the following terms: heresy

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Question 11

Diocletian's reforms included all of the following except

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A)   a huge expansion of the imperial bureaucracy.
B)   a division of the empire into two administrative halves.
C)   an increase in the size of the military by at least 50 percent.
D)   a revival of the practices of the Principate.
E)   creation of a more military, political, and administrative tetrarchy.

Question 12

Define the following terms: Orthodox

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Question 13

Define the following terms: monophysitism

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Question 14

Use the map (or maps) referenced in each question for your answer. Study Map 7.1 showing Diocletian's division of the empire. Which half contains more urban cities? Would you expect to find different languages in the two halves?

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Question 15

Define the following terms: officium

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Question 16

The era between 284 and ca. 600 is marked by confrontations between the papacy and the various emperors. How is this shown using Pope Gelasius and Emperor Anastasius?

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Question 17

Summarize the main features of the reign of Justinian and Theodora.

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Question 18

Use the map (or maps) referenced in each question for your answer. Using Maps 6.1 and 7.3, compare the Roman Empire at its height with the same area in the sixth century. What are the largest barbarian kingdoms shown?

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