Constantinople's Transition to Byzantium: Innovations, Religion, and Cultural Shifts, Quizzes of World History

Download Constantinople's Transition to Byzantium: Innovations, Religion, and Cultural Shifts and more Quizzes World History in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Constantinople DEFINITION 1 Constantinople aka Nova Roma aka Byzantine is named capital of the Roman Empire in 330 by Constantine. Becomes Greek-speaking, citizens consider themselves Romano Christian city, though Pagan and polytheistic religions do exist and seemed to have been instilled in the culture by Constantine himself. Major city and cultural hub in the ancient world. TERM 2 Constantinople (3 Major Innovations) DEFINITION 2 Wall - new defense system was necessary because population outgrew old system of walls. Theodosius II was 12-year-old emperor when Theodosian Walls were completed (408). Walls were ultimate in defense, built with Limestone Mortar (NEW!). Water - Nova Roma was surrounded by salt water, its citizens were dying of thirst. Emperor Valens (364-378) engineered aqueduct system that transported water 400 miles from Spring to City. Underground water storage systems were built as well. Sport - Hippodrome - stadium at the center of Constantinople, seated 30,000. Horse-racing. SERIOUS teams/fans (factions). TERM 3 Hagion Sergios & Bacchos DEFINITION 3 Built in 527 AD Huge, domed church Rejects the Basilica model. Built by Anthemios of Tralles, famous mathematician, for Justinian and Theodora. TERM 4 Nika Riots DEFINITION 4 Week-long riots in Constantinople in 532 Began b/c of divisions in city caused by Hippodrome games and the hooliganism of different teams' fans. Also b/c citizens were unhappy with spending of Justinian and major increase in taxes under his rule. Justinian was going to flee, but Theodora talked him out of it and on the 5th day Justinian put down the riots by locking the rioters inside the Hippodrome and sending in the army to eliminate them. TERM 5 Hagia Sophia DEFINITION 5 Built under Justinian and Theodora by Anthemios (Hagion Sergios and Bacchos) and Miletus, another mathematician. Reconstruction of the great imperial church now gave it the largest dome that the world had ever seen. Construction began just 6 weeks after Nika Riots. Structure reinforces likeness between Emperors/Jesus: The architecture -- microcosm/macrocosm allusion -- the murals give Pantokrator vibe to Jesus, shows him as a emperor, lavished in material possessions. TERM 6 Anthemios DEFINITION 6 Mathematician Commissioned by Justinian and Theodora to be an architect Engineered Hagion Sergios and Bacchos Engineered Hagia Sophia TERM 7 San Vitale DEFINITION 7 Church built in 6th century by Justinian and Theodora in Ravenna, Italy. Built with same design used for Hagia Sophia, except on a smaller scale Modest in size, extravagant in detail and mural on the inside. Beautiful Jesus mosaics 2 themes: Making an offering to God and Receiving divine wisdom from God himself. TERM 8 Corpus Juris Civilis DEFINITION 8 529-534, took 5 years to create under Justinian's rule Last great piece of scholarship in Latin from Constantinople, makes sense of 1000 years of Roman Law, sets foundation for Western Law in the future. INDISPENSABLE. Project supervised by Tribonian (500-547) and team of lawyers 4 parts: 1. Codex (main part) 2. Digest (condensed version of codex) 3. Institutes (textbook version for students) 4. Novels (new laws made by Justinian). Justinian's most lasting, crucial piece of work in his legacy. TERM 9 Reconquest of the West DEFINITION 9 533-553, Justinian's "proudest" accomplishment. His mission to re-unite massive empire held under Constantine. General of this conquest was Belisarius, who, in 20 years reconquers North Africa from Vandals, Italy from Goths (although half of Italy's population dies in process). This reintegration of Constantine's empire is a massive accomplishment, however by 650 they begin to lose their empire rapidly due to the Arab Muslim conquest. TERM 10 Sassanid Empire/Zoroastrianism DEFINITION 10 Sassanid rule comes over the Persian people in 226 AD Sassanid Empire is Zoroastrian, and it becomes big religion in Persia Zoroastrianism is a dualist religion. Ahura Mazda -- good god. Angra Mainyu -- bad god. NOT an Abrahamic religion (important for how Muslims see them, not as "People of the Book"). TERM 21 Ulema DEFINITION 21 Religious officials of Islam. Have no special power Conduct prayer service Offer Fatwa--spiritual guidance TERM 22 Qadi DEFINITION 22 Legal officials of Islam Uphold Shari'a Law -- Islamic legal code, composed of Hu- ran and Hadith. TERM 23 Ka'aba DEFINITION 23 Mosque in MeccaReligious epicenter of Islam TERM 24 Caliphs DEFINITION 24 Caliph replaces Mohammed as spiritual and political leader of the Islamic people. 3rd Caliph after Mohammed, Uthman, was assassinated and replaced by Ali (Mohammed's cousin). This assassination and power grab caused Sunni/Shi'a rift in the Islamic people. Sunni - majority Shi'a - minority, on Ali's side of argument. TERM 25 Battle of Karbala DEFINITION 25 680 AD Caliph Yazid leads Sunni's over Imam Hussein and Shi'a army. Pivotal moment for Shi'a, celebrated as holiday in their culture. Hussein's army was small but fought hard, are now considered martyrs in Shi'a culture. TERM 26 The Twelve Imams DEFINITION 26 656-874 Shi'a believe 12 leaders would lead them in time. Twelfth Imam is still alive and is 1,200 years old. 12th Imam will return someday as the messiah. TERM 27 Umayyad Caliphate DEFINITION 27 661-750 Hereditary Monarchy at top of Islamic power structure, occupies Caliph office -- after Mohammed. Began with Mu'awiyya Family dynasty began, lasted almost 100 years. TERM 28 Rum DEFINITION 28 Arab name for Rome, Constantinople, etc... TERM 29 Al-Masjid al-Uwami DEFINITION 29 Demascus, 715 Known as "The Great Mosque" was built under Caliph Al-walid. Decorations and mosaics were transported from Constantinople as a part of a trade because the Islamic culture did not have as advanced artistic ability. TERM 30 Jerusalem DEFINITION 30 3rd most sacred place in Islamic culture (al-Quds) behind Mecca and Medina Mosques, shrines built here in sacred areas. TERM 31 Dome of the Rock DEFINITION 31 Built in 690 in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount Built under Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik It's holiness stems from its location. It's architecture is PERFECT It's a shrine NOT a mosque al-Malik built it to cover up a disastrous reign. TERM 32 Al-Masjid al-Aqsa DEFINITION 32 705, Built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, next to Dome of the Rock Built under al-Walid and his father Considered 3rd holiest Mosque in Islamic tradition, behind The Great Mosque and the Mosque in Medina Very Romanesque architecture, looks like a Basilica TERM 33 Marwan II DEFINITION 33 744-750 Part of the Umayyad Caliphate. Not very popular Alienated many minority groups TERM 34 Abu al-Abbas DEFINITION 34 Gathered the alienated minorities that Marwan II spurned and galvanized them into an army Fought Marwan at Battle of the Zab, won, started Abbasid Caliphate TERM 35 Battle of the Zab DEFINITION 35 750 Between Marwan (Umayyad) and al-Abbas (misfit army) al-Abbas won and killed every single Umayyad left besides one 19 year old boy Began Abbasid Caliphate -- new hereditary monarchy of Islamic rule, lasts from 750-1258 AD