Byzantine Empire Trivia
Byzantine Empire trivia explores the long-lived eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, centered on Constantinople and shaped by war, faith, diplomacy, and art. From emperors and invasions to Orthodox Christianity and the fall of the city in 1453, it offers a concise way to revisit one of history’s most influential civilizations.
Easy Byzantine Empire Trivia
13 questions
These easy Byzantine Empire trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
Who refounded Byzantium as Constantinople in 330?
Answer: Constantine the Great
Byzantium was refounded is Constantinople in 330 by Constantine the Great.
Question 2
In what year was Byzantium refounded as Constantinople?
Answer: 330
The city was refounded is Constantinople in the year 330.
Question 3
Constantinople stood on which strait?
- A.The Suez Canal
- B.Bosporus
- C.The Dardanelles
- D.The Strait of Gibraltar
Answer: The Bosporus
Constantinople stood on the Bosporus strait, a key waterway.
Question 4
The Byzantine Empire was the continuation of which empire in the east?
- A.Roman Empire
- B.The Persian Empire
- C.The Ottoman Empire
- D.The Mongol Empire
Answer: The Roman Empire
The Byzantine Empire is described is the continuation of the Roman Empire in the east.
Question 5
What became the main language of the Byzantine Empire?
- A.Latin
- B.Arabic
- C.Persian
- D.Greek
Answer: Greek
Greek became the main language of the Byzantine Empire.
Question 6
Which emperor ruled from 527 to 565?
- A.Constantine the Great
- B.Mehmed II
- C.Constantine XI Palaiologos
- D.Justinian I
Answer: Justinian I
Emperor Justinian I ruled from 527 to 565.
Question 7
The Nika Riot erupted in Constantinople in what year?
Answer: 532
The Nika Riot is dated to 532 in Constantinople.
Question 8
Who was the wife of Emperor Justinian I?
Answer: Theodora
Theodora was the wife of Emperor Justinian I.
Question 9
What was the center of chariot racing in Constantinople called?
- A.The Forum
- B.The Acropolis
- C.Hippodrome of Constantinople
- D.The Colosseum
Answer: The Hippodrome of Constantinople
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a center of chariot racing.
Question 10
The Byzantine Empire fell when which city was captured in 1453?
- A.Thessaloniki
- B.Rome
- C.Athens
- D.Constantinople
Answer: Constantinople
The empire fell when Constantinople was captured in 1453.
Question 11
Which Ottoman ruler captured Constantinople?
- A.Mehmed II
- B.Suleiman the Magnificent
- C.Justinian I
- D.Constantine XI Palaiologos
Answer: Mehmed II
Mehmed II was the Ottoman ruler who captured Constantinople.
Question 12
Who was the last Byzantine emperor?
Answer: Constantine XI Palaiologos
Constantine XI Palaiologos is identified is the last Byzantine emperor.
Question 13
Byzantine Christianity belonged mainly to which part of the Christian world?
- A.Christian East
- B.The Christian West
- C.Northern Europe
- D.North Africa
Answer: The Christian East
Byzantine Christianity belonged mainly to the Christian East.
Byzantine Empire Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Byzantine Empire trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
Which bird symbol is famously linked with Byzantium, with one head looking each way?
- A.Single-headed falcon
- B.double-headed eagle
- C.Golden lion
- D.Silver wolf
Answer: The double-headed eagle
The double-headed eagle became a symbol associated with Byzantium.
Question 2
What is the common name for Justinian’s great collection of laws?
Answer: The Corpus Juris Civilis
Justinian’s law collection is commonly called the Corpus Juris Civilis.
Question 3
Who was the leading general serving under Emperor Justinian I?
Answer: Belisarius
Belisarius was a leading general under Justinian I.
Question 4
Which commander helped Justinian reconquer parts of Italy?
Answer: Narses
Narses helped Justinian reconquer parts of Italy.
Question 5
In Byzantine Italy, which city was a major center of imperial power?
Answer: Ravenna
Ravenna served is a major Byzantine center in Italy.
Question 6
Under Justinian, the empire briefly recovered lands in which region?
Answer: North Africa
The empire briefly recovered parts of North Africa under Justinian.
Question 7
Justinian’s armies battled which group in Italy?
Answer: The Ostrogoths
Justinian’s armies fought the Ostrogoths in Italy.
Question 8
Which year is associated with a key milestone for Byzantine Empire?
Answer: Heraclius
Heraclius overthrew Phocas and became emperor in 610.
Question 9
What was the name of the famous Byzantine weapon known for burning fiercely?
Answer: Greek fire
Byzantine 'Greek fire' was famous is an incendiary weapon.
Question 10
What do historians call the Byzantine dispute over the use of religious images?
Answer: Iconoclasm
Iconoclasm was the Byzantine dispute over the use of religious images.
Question 11
Which empress ruled in her own name from 797 to 802?
Answer: Empress Irene
Empress Irene ruled is empress in her own name from 797 to 802.
Question 12
Which emperor is known for helping the Byzantine Empire reach another high point?
Answer: Basil II
The empire reached a high point again under Basil II.
Fun Byzantine Empire Trivia
13 questions
These fun Byzantine Empire trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Which Byzantine princess put on her historian hat and wrote the work known as the Alexiad?
Answer: Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, a Byzantine princess and historian, wrote the Alexiad.
Question 2
What is the title of the historical work written by Anna Komnene?
Answer: The Alexiad
Anna Komnene's historical work is called the Alexiad.
Question 3
Which famous Byzantine figure was both a princess and a historian?
Answer: Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene is noted is both a Byzantine princess and historian.
Question 4
Who was the 11th-century Byzantine scholar and courtier with a name that sounds ready for a palace debate?
Answer: Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos is identified is an 11th-century Byzantine scholar and courtier.
Question 5
Which historian wrote a major account covering the 12th and early 13th centuries?
Answer: Niketas Choniates
Niketas Choniates wrote a major history of the 12th and early 13th centuries.
Question 6
De Administrando Imperio is attributed to which Byzantine ruler?
Answer: Constantine VII
The work De Administrando Imperio is attributed to Constantine VII.
Question 7
Which late Byzantine teacher is linked with Platonic philosophy?
Answer: Gemistos Plethon
Gemistos Plethon taught Platonic philosophy in the late Byzantine period.
Question 8
In Byzantine Greek, what title meant "emperor"?
Answer: Basileus
The title basileus meant emperor in Byzantine Greek.
Question 9
True or false: In Byzantium, "Caesar" could be used as a high imperial court title.?
Answer: True
Caesar was indeed used in Byzantium is a high imperial court title.
Question 10
Who were the Byzantine borderlands' tough-on-the-frontier defenders?
Answer: Akritai
Akritai were frontier defenders in Byzantine border regions.
Question 11
Which legendary hero strides out of Byzantine literature as a famous warrior figure?
Answer: Digenes Akritas
Digenes Akritas is a famous heroic figure from Byzantine literature.
Question 12
If a Byzantine church wall wanted to sparkle, what hallmark decoration was it probably wearing?
Answer: Mosaics
Mosaics were a hallmark of Byzantine church decoration.
Question 13
Which color was especially tied to imperial status in Byzantium?
- A.Gold
- B.Blue
- C.purple
- D.Red
Answer: Purple
Purple silk was closely associated with imperial status in Byzantium.
Funny Byzantine Empire Trivia
13 questions
These funny Byzantine Empire trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
If you wanted your sports loyalty to sound like a paint swatch in Constantinople, which major chariot faction would you join: the Blues or the Beige?
- A.The Reds
- B.The Purples
- C.Blues
- D.The Beige
Answer: The Blues
The Blues were one of the major chariot-racing factions in Constantinople.
Question 2
In Constantinople’s chariot-racing scene, which major faction sounded less like a team and more like a salad ingredient?
Answer: The Greens
The Greens were another major chariot-racing faction in Constantinople.
Question 3
When a Byzantine crowd shouted “Nika!” they were basically yelling what in Greek?
- A.“Retreat”
- B.“Negotiate”
- C.“Applaud”
- D.Win
Answer: “Conquer” or “win”
“Nika” means “conquer” or “win” in Greek.
Question 4
Who had the unenviable job of leading the Byzantine army at Manzikert in 1071?
Answer: Romanos IV Diogenes
Romanos IV Diogenes led the Byzantine army at Manzikert in 1071.
Question 5
The Battle of Manzikert took place in which year, in case your medieval calendar is somehow overbooked?
- A.1071
- B.1081
- C.1204
- D.1261
Answer: 1071
The Battle of Manzikert was fought in 1071.
Question 6
Which emperor kicked off the Komnenian dynasty by becoming emperor in 1081?
Answer: Alexios I Komnenos
The Komnenian dynasty began when Alexios I became emperor in 1081.
Question 7
In what year did the Fourth Crusade pull off the least neighborly visit imaginable and capture Constantinople?
- A.1071
- B.1081
- C.1261
- D.1204
Answer: 1204
The Fourth Crusade captured Constantinople in 1204.
Question 8
After 1204, what state was established in Constantinople by the new rulers?
Answer: The Latin Empire
The Latin Empire was established in Constantinople after 1204.
Question 9
Who recaptured Constantinople for the Byzantines in 1261, proving the city had serious custody issues?
Answer: Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos recaptured Constantinople for the Byzantines in 1261.
Question 10
Which dynasty had the awkward honor of being Byzantium’s last ruling dynasty?
Answer: The Palaiologos dynasty
The Palaiologos dynasty was the last ruling dynasty of Byzantium.
Question 11
Which emperor is tied to the first phase of Iconoclasm, in one of history’s fiercer art-policy debates?
Answer: Leo III
Emperor Leo III is associated with the first phase of Iconoclasm.
Question 12
Which council in 787 restored the veneration of icons, effectively saying the pictures could come back?
Answer: The Second Council of Nicaea
The Second Council of Nicaea in 787 restored the veneration of icons.
Question 13
The Triumph of Orthodoxy is commemorated in Eastern Christianity in what year?
- A.1071
- B.1261
- C.843
Answer: 843
The Triumph of Orthodoxy is commemorated in Eastern Christianity in 843.
Hard Byzantine Empire Trivia
14 questions
These hard Byzantine Empire trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
In what year did Diocletian formally divide Roman imperial rule into eastern and western halves, laying groundwork for the later Byzantine world?
Answer: 286
The division of the Roman Empire into eastern and western halves under Diocletian dates to 286.
Question 2
Which decree in 380 established Nicene Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire?
- A.The Edict of Milan
- B.The Quinisext Council
- C.Edict of Thessalonica
- D.The Henotikon
Answer: The Edict of Thessalonica
The Edict of Thessalonica, issued in 380, made Nicene Christianity the state religion.
Question 3
Name the council that met near Constantinople in 451 and became one of the defining doctrinal gatherings of the Christian world.?
Answer: The Council of Chalcedon
The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 near Constantinople.
Question 4
What was the name of the document issued by Emperor Zeno in 482 in an effort to address religious divisions?
- A.The Edict of Thessalonica
- B.The Quinisext Council
- C.Henotikon
- D.De Ceremoniis
Answer: The Henotikon
Zeno issued the Henotikon in 482.
Question 5
Which emperor is credited with abolishing the chrysargyron tax in 498?
- A.Anastasius I
- B.Zeno
- C.Basil I
- D.Nikephoros I
Answer: Anastasius I
Anastasius I abolished the chrysargyron tax in 498.
Question 6
Which major Constantinopolitan cistern, dating to Justinian’s reign, is the one later famous for its vast underground forest of columns?
Answer: The Basilica Cistern
The massive open-air cistern in Constantinople from Justinian’s reign was the Basilica Cistern.
Question 7
What administrative creation was used to govern Byzantine Italy from Ravenna?
Answer: The Exarchate of Ravenna
The Exarchate of Ravenna was created to govern Byzantine Italy.
Question 8
Which council met in Constantinople in 692 and is often identified by a name meaning “fifth-sixth”?
- A.The Council of Chalcedon
- B.The Council of Ferrara-Florence
- C.The Edict of Thessalonica
- D.Quinisext Council
Answer: The Quinisext Council
The Quinisext Council met in Constantinople in 692.
Question 9
At which battle in 811 was Emperor Nikephoros I killed?
- A.The Battle of Kleidion
- B.The Council of Chalcedon
- C.The Battle of Manzikert
- D.Battle of Pliska
Answer: The Battle of Pliska
Nikephoros I was killed at the Battle of Pliska in 811.
Question 10
Which ruler’s accession in 867 marks the start of the Macedonian dynasty?
Answer: Basil I
The Macedonian dynasty began with Basil I in 867.
Question 11
What is the title of the ceremonial handbook associated with Constantine VII?
Answer: De Ceremoniis
The ceremonial handbook known is De Ceremoniis is associated with Constantine VII.
Question 12
In Byzantine administration, what was the title of an important official post often rendered as a senior fiscal or bureaucratic office?
Answer: logothete
The office of logothete was an important Byzantine administrative post.
Question 13
Which Byzantine title was used for a provincial military governor?
Answer: strategos
The title strategos was used for a provincial military governor.
Question 14
What was the Byzantine system called that granted revenue rights in exchange for service?
Answer: pronoia
The pronoia system granted revenue rights in exchange for service.
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