Chapter 10: The Commonwealth of Byzantium
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How did the Byzantine Empire form, what institutions and infrastructure did it draw from the Western Roman
Empire, and how was it politically distinct?
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In what ways did the Byzantine Empire resist the rise of Islam in the 7 and 8 centuries and begin new
expansion after that despite Islamic and Western challenges?
Describe the development of Eastern Orthodoxy and its unique features that eventually forced a split
between it and Roman Catholicism.
How did Byzantine culture come to so greatly influence Eastern Europe?
A fully developed response to the questions above will include reference to many of the following terms, but it is
not limited only to these terms. Consider adding in information covered in class through lecture, media, and
activities as a further supplement to what’s found in the text, including your own study and experience. Bold or
underline your use of these terms, concepts, ideas in your responses:
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The Early Byzantine Empire: Byzantium, Constantine, Constantinople, Caesaropapism, Byzantine court
(purple, mechanical devices, etc.), Justinian (Theodora, Jusitinian’s Body of Law, Hagia Sophia), Eastern
Orthodoxy) (1)
Islamic Conquests and Byzantine Revival: “Greek fire”, theme system (role of free peasants, the eventual
collapse of the system), Basil the Bulgar Slayer, Charlemagne, Otto of Saxony (2)
Classical Heritage and Orthodox Christianity: Byzantine education (use of Greek instead of Latin, high
literacy rates), the nature of Jesus, iconoclasm, Byzantine monasticism (asceticism and differences with
western monasteries), Constantinople vs. Rome (The Great Schism of 1054) (3)
The Influence of Byzantium in Eastern Europe: Cyril and Methodius (Cyrillic alphabet), Prince Vladimir of
Kiev (conversion in 989), onion domes, “first, second, and third Rome” (4)
Review / Study Resources:
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Chapter 10 Practice Multiple Choice Quiz
Chapter 10 Byzantine Empire Map Review
Crash Course World History Video: The Fall of Rome ... in the 15th Century/The Byzantines
Grading Rubric:
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Excellent
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90-100%
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Proficient
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80-89%
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3
2
Basic
70-79%
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Developing
50-69%
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Addresses all parts of the questions and prompts completely.
Includes in responses all of the terms from the word bank AND outside information covered in class through lecture,
media, activities, possibly including some from the student’s own study and/or experience.
Explains thoroughly how or why the word bank terms help answer the question(s) AND makes connections, where
relevant and appropriate, to other societies and cultures, possibly including connections to recent and/or modern day
current events or trends.
Uses proper formatting conventions throughout the entire assignment: bolds key terms in body of work, numbers
responses, organizes responses with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and displays sound grammar/mechanics, etc.
Addresses all parts of the questions and prompts.
Includes in responses most if not all of the terms from the word bank.
Explains how or why the word bank terms help answer the question(s) AND possibly makes connections, where relevant
and appropriate, to other societies and cultures.
Uses proper formatting conventions throughout most of the assignment: bolds key terms in body of work, numbers
responses, organizes responses with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and displays sound grammar/mechanics, etc.
Addresses most parts of the questions and prompts, but some parts may be missing.
Includes in responses some of the terms from the word bank, but some may be missing.
Explains how or why the word bank terms help answer the question(s), but some of the key analysis or connections may
be missing or not done at all.
Uses some of the proper formatting conventions of the assignment, but consistency is lacking: bolds key terms in body
of work, numbers responses, organizes responses with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and displays sound
grammar/mechanics, etc.
Addresses few parts of the questions and prompts, but it’s mostly incomplete and undeveloped.
Includes in responses only a few of the terms from the word bank, but most are missing.
Explains very little of how the word bank terms help answer the question(s), but most of the key analysis is missing or not
done at all with few if any relevant connections made.
Uses none or very few of the proper formatting conventions of the assignment: bolds key terms in body of work,
numbers responses, organizes responses with a clear beginning, middle, and end, and displays sound
grammar/mechanics, etc.