History Long Essay Question revised

Civilization in Eastern Europe: Byzantium and Orthodox Europe  
Term Definition Chapter Context
Hagia Sophia Also called the Great Church, was established by Procopius under the rule of Emperor Justinian. The church whose establishment began in 532 after the Nika Riot replaced an existent church and other structures in the hub of Constantinople. The church prospered over the 900 years of the Byzantine Empire lacking competition in both size and grandeur only later to be converted into the Aya Sofya mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
Belisarius Flavius Belisarius held the role of general of the Byzantine Empire. During Emperor Justinian’s rule, Belisarius assisted in the liberation of Africa from Vandals, riding the Italian Peninsula of Ostrogoths (Eastern Goths), and the Visigoths (Western goths) from a section of Spain
Greek Fire This was the flame utilized by the Greek’s against rival vessels whose chemical compounds allowed it to burn despite trying to extinguish with water. During the Nika Riot in January 532 in the reign of Emperor Justinian, insurgents burned down Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene and other community structures.
Bulgaria Part of the Byzantine empire, Bulgaria had a relationship with the empire. The Bulgars raided Byzantine from 976 leading Emperor Basil to lead a conquest in Bulgaria on various occasions claiming victory in 1018.
Icon Religious images during the Byzantine Empire. Led to Iconoclasm with these icons banned from religious places.

Cyril and Methodius Slav sibling Saints that were Byzantine Christian theologians. They are known for playing a role in creating the first Slav alphabet.
Kiev Neighbours of the Byzantine Empire who were under the rule of Prince Vladimir. Vladimir, famous for capturing Chersonesos in 988, returned the Byzantine base to Emperor Basil and offered back-up in exchange for Basil’s sister Anna’s hand in marriage and conversion of Kiev to Christianity.
Rurik Patron of the Rurik Dynasty that held power over Kiev Rus’ Accredited with his rule over Kievan Rus’ in 862.
Kievan Rus’ Region of Slav and Fin individuals in Europe. Initially ruled over by Rurik.
Vladimir I (980-1015) Ruler of Kievan Rus’ around 980 Took back Novgorod from his brother and extended the Kievan Rus’ empire incorporating Christianity eliminating Slavic religion.
Russian Orthodoxy A group of churches within the Eastern Orthodox. Some of the churches date back to Slavic times during the reign of Vladimir I’s rule.
Yaroslav (975-1054) Also referred to as the Wise, he was the son of Vladimir I He founded the city of Yaroslav after defeating his brother to reclaim Kiev as ruler in 1019.
boyars An affiliate of high rank in upper classes of Bulgaria and Kiev. Kievan boyars held exalted positions in the social order as a factor of administrative, military, and commercial significance with their prominence extending past the end of the Kievan federation.
Tatars Nomadic assimilated Mongols. Known for their destruction of various Kievan Rus’ cities such as Kiev.
Divinely Appointed
The Tetarteron is a gold coin discovered by archaeologist in Bulgaria. The coin found in the ancient and medieval rock city of Perperikon in the South displays Emperor Basil II on one side and Jesus Christ on the other (Dikov n.p.). During his reign around 976, Emperor Basil II who perceived himself chosen by God, led a conquest in Bulgaria after the Bulgars raided Byzantine. Emperor Basil struggled with the Bulgarians until 1018 when he claimed victory (Nelson 14). Dikov notes that in one of the conquests, Basil captured 15 000 men and blinded most of them leaving few half blinded to lead the rest earning the title the “Bulgar Slayer” (n.p.)
The Tetarteron was widely used by upper class individuals in trade as it was discovered to have less weight than a similar gold coin in today’s society (Dikov n.p.). The coin created by the Byzantine Empire was found alongside a coin bearing his brother and successor to the throne’s image.
That the coin was also found alongside a lead seal of the Byzantium noble Georgios Kiviriotas in Southern Bulgaria reveals evidence of Emperor Basil’s conquering of Bulgaria (Dikov n.p.). The fact that the coin weighs less than a similar coin in the modern world reveals the perception of the coin in the Byzantine Empire as a means of security rather than as currency.

Name:
Long Essay Question – Divinely Appointed
Towards the exit of the fourth century, Emperor Theodosius divided the Roman Empire with Constantinople or formerly Byzantium, the capital as previously established by Constantine in 324. The Byzantine Empire gained traction after this period for almost a millennium with Emperor Justinian’s reign marking a historical point in the empire’s reign. The Hagia Sophia church established during the Justinian era prospered over the 900 years of the Byzantine Empire existing in the reign of Emperor Basil II. During the period from 324 to 1453, the Byzantine Empire grew to be influential in the structuring of modern Europe especially in the spread of Christianity relative to Kievan Rus, their allies.
Emperor Justinian faced opposition from uprising during his reign. Justinian together with his general Belisarius assisted in the liberation of Africa from Vandals, riding the Italian Peninsula of Eastern Goths, and the Western Goths from a section of Spain. Hagia Sophia, also called the Great Church, was established by Procopius under Justinian’s rule. The church whose establishment began in 532 after the Nika Riot replaced an existent church and other structures in the hub of Constantinople. This riot in January 532 involved insurgents burning the church, Hagia Irene and other community structures with Greek fire. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the church converted into the Aya Sofya mosque.
Bulgaria was a neighbor to the Byzantine Empire. Kievan Rus’, formed by Rurik were rivals of the Byzantine Empire. Nelson notes that Vladimir I, leader of Kiev captured Chersonesos in 988 only to return the Byzantine base to Emperor Basil and offered back-up in exchange for Basil’s sister, Anna’s hand in marriage and conversion of Kiev to Christianity (14).
During the spread of Christianity in the Byzantine Empire, significant underlying events fostered the spread. The Russian Orthodoxy arose in Slavic times during the reign of Vladimir I with churches established after the end of iconoclasm banning religious icons in churches. Kiev and the Byzantine Empire prospered together even after Vladimir I was succeeded by his son Yaroslav. Boyars assisted in extending trade in the empire offering their intellect where possible. Winston argues that this continued until the Tatars destroyed Kiev and Ottoman conquest transformed Constantinople to Istanbul (n.p.).
The thousand year period within which the Byzantine Empire grew to be influential in the structuring of modern Europe and especially in the spread of Christianity also drew influences from their allies in Kievan Rus. Emperor Justinian established Hagia Sophia as one of the largest churches and regain various lands lost. Emperor Basil II managed to conquer Bulgaria and convinced Vladimir I, leader of Kievan Rus to convert into Christianity. Finally, these events took place within and without a period when iconoclasm existed, theologian saints formed the Slavic alphabet and extended to when the Tartars destroyed Kiev and the Ottoman conquest ended the Byzantine Empire.

Works Cited
Dikov, Ivan. Archaeology in Bulgaria. 10 Aug. 2015. Retrieved from archaeologyinbulgaria.com/2015/08/10/archaeologist-discovers-gold-coin-of-byzantine-emperor-basil-ii-the-bulgar-slayer-in-bulgarias-perperikon/&hl=en-KE
Nelson, Robert S. Hagia Sophia, 1850-1950: Holy Wisdom Modern Monument. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004. Print.
Winston, Richard. Hagia Sophia: A History. New Word City, 17 May 2017. Google Books, HYPERLINK “https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=OhwkDwAAQBAJ&dq=hagia+sophia&source=gbs_navlinks_s” books.google.co.ke/books?id=OhwkDwAAQBAJ&dq=hagia+sophia&source=gbs_navlinks_s.