10E15 LISTENING - GROUP 4 UNIT 9:

UNCOVERING THE PAST

COMPREHENSION EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1: Use the given words or phrase in the box to complete the
following sentences. Remember to proper grammar.

Re-conquest Veneration Crusader Co-regent

Iconoclasm Mosaic Schism Animosity

Tribe Economically crippled Persecute

1. Constantine was the first emperor to legalize Christianity, which was

previously ……………………… throughout the pagan Roman Empire

2. Justinian the Great wished to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory
and was responsible for many ……………………, including North Africa, Spain,
and most of Italy.

3. Theodora, Justinian’s wife, was powerful and often referred to as his

……………….

4. The Isaurian Dynasty saw rising …………., banning ……………

5. The empire patronized art including Byzantine………………., had more

control over trade and more international prestige than under Justinian.

6. East-West religious relations became increasingly strained, and centuries

of theological and political differences culminated in the “Great……………….”
of 1054.

7. The combined Western-Byzantine forces recaptured Asia Minor, but the

events ultimately exacerbated East-West ………………………
8. Violent tensions between East and West culminated during the Fourth
Crusade, when Catholic …………… sacked Constantinople.

9. Under the Palaiologan emperors, Byzantium was ……………………………. and

failed to seek aid from the West.

10. Osman I was a leader of nomadic Turkic …………

EXERCISE 2: Watch the video then choose the correct answer.

1. The video primarily discusses:

A) The military conquests of the Byzantine Empire
B) The architectural achievements of the Byzantine Empire
C) The political structure of the Byzantine Empire
D) The religious influence of the Byzantine Empire

2. Who was the founder of the Byzantine Empire?

A) Julius Caesar
B) Constantine the Great
C) Augustus
D) Charlemagne

3. What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire?

A) Rome
B) Athens
C) Constantinople
D) Alexandria

4. Which emperor is known for codifying Roman law into the Corpus Juris
Civilis?
A) Constantine the Great
B) Justinian I
C) Theodosius I
D) Heraclius

5. Which famous Byzantine cathedral was built during the reign of Emperor
Justinian I?
A) Hagia Sophia
B) St. Peter's Basilica
C) St. Mark's Basilica
D) Notre-Dame Cathedral

EXERCISE 3: Fill in the blank with one word/number.

1. Founding:
The Byzantine Empire was established in AD
2. Challenges:
The Byzantine Empire was invaded by neighboring powers like the
and the
.
3. Decline and fall:
In AD, Constantinople fell to the Empire, bringing an end
to the Byzantine Empire after more than a millennium of
existence.

EXERCISE 4: Watch the video and answer the questions. Mark T for
True, F for False, NG for Not Given.

1. Constantinople's strategic location

made it a center of trade and culture,
connecting only Europe.

2. Emperor Justinian I is known for

his efforts to reconquer the Western
Roman Empire
3. The Byzantine Empire faced no
challenges during its existence.

4. The official language of the

Byzantine Empire was Latin.

5. The Great Schism occurred in 1054

AD, leading to the formal split
between the Eastern Orthodox
Church and the Roman Catholic
Church.
EXERCISE 5: Answer these questions based on what you hear.

1. The speaker's tone is primarily

A) Informative and neutral
B) Excited and enthusiastic
C) Formal and authoritative
D) Casual and conversational

2. The speaker's tone towards the achievements of Emperor Justinian I is:

A) Critical and dismissive
B) Admiring and reverent
C) Indifferent and uninterested
D) Skeptical and doubtful

3. Overall, the speaker's tone towards the fall of the Byzantine Empire is:
A) Celebratory and triumphant
B) Grieving and lamenting
C) Indifferent and detached
D) Analytical and detached