Ancient Rome and Byzantium the Birth of the Byzantine Empire

Non-fiction: Ancient Rome and Byzantium - The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

Ancient Rome and Byzantium The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

In A.D. 326, the Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman

Empire from Rome. He chose Byzantium, a city east of Rome, as his new capital.

He renamed the city Constantinople.

In A.D. 476, the city of Rome was conquered.1 After that, only the empire centered in Constantinople was left. This became known as the Byzantine Empire.

Latin and Greek were the two most important languages of the Byzantine

Empire. Greek was spoken in daily life. Latin was used for religious ceremonies2 and government work.

The Byzantine Empire was a Christian one. Christianity remained at the core3 of Byzantium life. Constantinople was the center of the Christian world.

In A.D. 1453, The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks. Today,

Constantinople, now called Istanbul, is the largest city in Turkey.

1 conquered - lost to invaders 2 ceremonies - special acts that have rules 3 core - center

Questions: Ancient Rome and Byzantium - The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

Name: ______Date:______

1. What was an important language in the Byzantine Empire?

a. Greek b. English c. German d. Turkish

2. What caused the rise of the Byzantine Empire?

a. The fall of Rome b. The fall of Greece c. The fall of Christianity d. The fall of the Turks

3. What is another good name for this passage?

a. The End of Rome b. The Rise of Turkey c. The Start of a Christian Empire d. Istanbul: An Important City

4. What is the most likely reason that the author includes the current name of Constantinople?

a. To remind you of Emperor Constantine b. So you can look at a map and find Constantinople c. To confuse you d. Because Istanbul is a pretty name

5. The passage “The Birth of the Byzantine Empire” is mostly about

a. the birth of an important leader b. wars between the Roman and Byzantine empires c. the current government in Turkey d. an empire and what it was like

Questions: Ancient Rome and Byzantium - The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

6. How important was Christianity to the Byzantine Empire?

______

7. How were the two important languages of the Byzantine Empire used differently?

______

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Constantinople became the capital of the Roman Empire ______Constantine moved it there from Rome.

a. later b. although c. after d. therefore

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

The Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Turks in A.D. 1453.

What? ______

(was) What? conquered by the Turks

When? ______

10. Vocabulary Word: ceremony: a formal event that has special rules.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ______

______

Answers: Ancient Rome and Byzantium - The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

Teacher Guide and Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 630

Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic

Passage Summary: The Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire, with Constantinople (formerly Byzantium) as its capital. The Byzantine Empire was Christian, spoke Greek and Latin, and fell to the Turks in A.D. 1453.

1. What was an important language in the Byzantine Empire? a. Greek b. English c. German d. Turkish

2. What caused the rise of the Byzantine Empire? a. The fall of Rome b. The fall of Greece c. The fall of Christianity d. The fall of the Turks

3. What is another good name for this passage? a. The End of Rome b. The Rise of Turkey c. The Start of a Christian Empire d. Istanbul: An Important City

4. What is the most likely reason that the author includes the current name of Constantinople? a. To remind you of Emperor Constantine b. So you can look at a map and find Constantinople c. To confuse you d. Because Istanbul is a pretty name

5. The passage “The Birth of the Byzantine Empire” is mostly about a. the birth of an important leader b. wars between the Roman and Byzantine empires c. the current government in Turkey d. an empire and what it was like

Answers: Ancient Rome and Byzantium - The Birth of the Byzantine Empire

6. How important was Christianity to the Byzantine Empire?

Suggested answer: Answers will vary but should include the idea that Christianity was central to the Byzantine Empire and affected all aspects of Byzantine life.

7. How were the two important languages of the Byzantine Empire used differently?

Suggested answer: The two important languages of the Byzantine Empire were Greek and Latin. Greek was spoken in daily life, while Latin was used in religious ceremonies and for government work.

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Constantinople became the capital of the Roman Empire ______Constantine moved it there from Rome.

a. later b. although c. after d. therefore

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

The Byzantine Empire was conquered by the Turks in A.D. 1453.

What? the Byzantine Empire

(was) What? conquered by the Turks

When? in A.D. 1453

10. Vocabulary Word: ceremony: a formal event that has special rules.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary.