The Byzantine Empire

Describe the location of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, relative to two continents.

Constantinople is North of Africa and South of Europe.

Describe the location of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, relative to two bodies of water.

Constantinople is North of the Mediterranean Sea and South of the Black Sea.

Based on the map above, describe how geography and its location affected the development of Constantinople.

Constantinople was perfectly located because it was surrounded by water, which made it easier for trading and fishing with the Roman Empire.

Identify three continents on which the Byzantine Empire controlled land.

Europe, Asia, and Africa

Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the questions: How did Justinian and Theodora gain, consolidate, and maintain power in the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENT 1: Map of the Expansion of the Byzantine Empire During the Reign of Justinian and Theodora.

G (Gained power) or C (consolidated power) - by winning wars, they conquered new land, power, and resources.

What title did Justinian give Theodora when he became the ruler of the Byzantine Empire? Based on this, what can you infer about their relationship and her power?

Justinian and Theodora were co-emperors, they shared the power equally.

Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the questions: How did Justinian and Theodora gain, consolidate, and maintain power in the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENT 2: Nika Riots

M (maintained power) - by killing the rioters and their leaders, they kept themselves from being overthrown

Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the questions: How did Justinian and Theodora gain, consolidate, and maintain power in the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENT 3A: Justinian's Code, excerpt 1

M (maintained power) - they used their power to create new laws to unify their empire

Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the questions: How did Justinian and Theodora gain, consolidate, and maintain power in the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENT 4: Religious Order and Persecution

M (maintained power) - using his power, Justinian persecuted and oppressed people from many different religious and ethnic groups into converting to Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Use the annotation key below while reading the documents that follow to gather evidence to answer the questions: How did Justinian and Theodora gain, consolidate, and maintain power in the Byzantine Empire? DOCUMENT 3B: Justinian's Code, excerpt 2

M (maintained) - using the Justinian Code, power was established between families and individuals had the ability to create wills under civil law.

Describe the location of the Byzantine Empire relative to two bodies of water.

The Byzantine Empire is located south of the Black Sea and North of the Mediterranean Sea.

Describe the location of the Byzantine Empire relative to two regions.

The Byzantine Empire is north of North Africa and east of the Middle East.

How was Justinian and Theodora's Byzantine Empire different from Western Europe during the same time period?

The Byzantine Empire was a centralized government whereas Western Europe was decentralized.