Q.1 Who was the founder of the Byzantine Empire?
Constantine the Great
Justinian I
Theodosius I
Heraclius
Explanation - Constantine the Great founded Constantinople in 330 CE, which became the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Correct answer is: Constantine the Great
Q.2 What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire?
Rome
Athens
Constantinople
Alexandria
Explanation - Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul, was the capital and a major center of trade and culture.
Correct answer is: Constantinople
Q.3 Which Byzantine emperor is famous for codifying Roman law?
Justinian I
Leo III
Basil II
Heraclius
Explanation - Justinian I commissioned the Corpus Juris Civilis, a codification of Roman law that influenced European legal systems.
Correct answer is: Justinian I
Q.4 What was the primary religion of the Byzantine Empire?
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Paganism
Explanation - Christianity, specifically Eastern Orthodox Christianity, was the state religion of the Byzantine Empire.
Correct answer is: Christianity
Q.5 Which empire did the Byzantine Empire primarily consider its continuation?
Roman Empire
Persian Empire
Macedonian Empire
Ottoman Empire
Explanation - The Byzantine Empire considered itself the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of Rome.
Correct answer is: Roman Empire
Q.6 What was the name of the church built by Emperor Justinian I in Constantinople?
Hagia Sophia
St. Peter's Basilica
Notre Dame
Pantheon
Explanation - Hagia Sophia was built in 537 CE as a cathedral and is renowned for its massive dome and architectural beauty.
Correct answer is: Hagia Sophia
Q.7 Which emperor successfully defended the Byzantine Empire against the Persians and early Islamic forces?
Heraclius
Justinian I
Constantine V
Leo VI
Explanation - Heraclius reformed the military and led campaigns against the Persians and early Arab forces in the 7th century.
Correct answer is: Heraclius
Q.8 What was the main language of administration in the Byzantine Empire?
Latin
Greek
Arabic
Coptic
Explanation - While Latin was used early on, Greek became the primary administrative and cultural language of the Byzantine Empire.
Correct answer is: Greek
Q.9 Which Byzantine emperor is known as the 'Bulgar Slayer'?
Basil II
Leo III
Justinian II
Alexios I Komnenos
Explanation - Basil II earned his nickname due to his military campaigns against the Bulgarians, expanding Byzantine territory significantly.
Correct answer is: Basil II
Q.10 What major event in 1204 significantly weakened the Byzantine Empire?
Fourth Crusade
Fall of Constantinople
Arab Invasion
Rise of the Ottomans
Explanation - During the Fourth Crusade, Crusaders sacked Constantinople, causing long-term political and economic damage.
Correct answer is: Fourth Crusade
Q.11 Which title did Byzantine emperors use to signify their supreme authority?
Caesar
Augustus
Basileus
Kaiser
Explanation - Byzantine emperors used the Greek title 'Basileus,' meaning king or emperor, as a symbol of their authority.
Correct answer is: Basileus
Q.12 Which Byzantine emperor initiated the Iconoclasm movement?
Leo III
Justinian I
Michael III
Constantine V
Explanation - Leo III started Iconoclasm in the 8th century, banning religious images in an effort to reform the church.
Correct answer is: Leo III
Q.13 Which sea was crucial for Byzantine trade and naval power?
Red Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Caspian Sea
Baltic Sea
Explanation - The Byzantine Empire controlled key Mediterranean trade routes, enhancing wealth and influence.
Correct answer is: Mediterranean Sea
Q.14 What was the system of military and land grants in the Byzantine Empire called?
Feudalism
Theme System
Manorial System
Satrapy System
Explanation - The Theme System divided the empire into military districts, with soldiers granted land in return for service.
Correct answer is: Theme System
Q.15 Which Byzantine emperor codified laws and issued the 'Novellae'?
Justinian I
Theodosius II
Heraclius
Alexios I Komnenos
Explanation - The 'Novellae Constitutiones' were new laws issued by Justinian I to supplement the Corpus Juris Civilis.
Correct answer is: Justinian I
Q.16 Which group was a major threat to the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century?
Vikings
Slavs
Arab Caliphates
Huns
Explanation - The early Islamic Caliphates conquered Byzantine territories in the Levant, Egypt, and North Africa.
Correct answer is: Arab Caliphates
Q.17 What major architectural feature is Hagia Sophia known for?
Flying Buttresses
Large Dome
Minarets
Pyramids
Explanation - Hagia Sophia's central dome was an engineering marvel of its time and influenced later church architecture.
Correct answer is: Large Dome
Q.18 Which emperor recaptured parts of North Africa, Italy, and Spain during the Byzantine reconquest?
Justinian I
Heraclius
Leo III
Basil II
Explanation - Justinian I's military campaigns under generals like Belisarius temporarily restored parts of the Western Roman Empire.
Correct answer is: Justinian I
Q.19 What was the primary purpose of the Byzantine secret service called 'Bureau of Barbarians'?
Trade Regulation
Espionage
Tax Collection
Religious Oversight
Explanation - The Bureau of Barbarians monitored foreign powers, gathering intelligence and overseeing diplomacy.
Correct answer is: Espionage
Q.20 Which event in 1453 marked the fall of the Byzantine Empire?
Siege of Constantinople
Battle of Manzikert
Fourth Crusade
Fall of Rome
Explanation - The Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire.
Correct answer is: Siege of Constantinople
Q.21 Which dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire during its longest period of stability?
Komnenos
Macedonian
Palaiologos
Doukas
Explanation - The Macedonian dynasty (867–1056) oversaw expansion, economic prosperity, and cultural revival.
Correct answer is: Macedonian
Q.22 What was the official currency of the Byzantine Empire?
Dinar
Solidus
Denarius
Sestertius
Explanation - The gold solidus was introduced by Constantine I and became a stable currency for centuries.
Correct answer is: Solidus
Q.23 Which emperor attempted to restore icons after the Iconoclast period?
Michael III
Leo III
Constantine V
Basil I
Explanation - Michael III, with the help of the regent Theodora, restored the veneration of icons in 843 CE.
Correct answer is: Michael III
Q.24 What role did Constantinople play in the Silk Road trade network?
Major Port and Market
Military Outpost Only
Religious Center Only
Agricultural Hub Only
Explanation - Constantinople served as a key hub connecting Europe and Asia, facilitating trade along the Silk Road.
Correct answer is: Major Port and Market
Q.25 Which Byzantine general famously defended the empire against the Sassanids and reconquered lost territories?
Belisarius
Leo III
Basil II
Nikephoros II
Explanation - Belisarius, under Justinian I, led campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and the East, restoring imperial territories.
Correct answer is: Belisarius