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Byzantine Empire under the Komnenos dynasty
Contributed by: Heaton
  • 1. During which century did the Komnenos dynasty rule the Byzantine Empire?
A) 7th century
B) 10th century
C) 12th century
D) 14th century
  • 2. Which of the following was a major threat faced by the Byzantine Empire during the Komnenos dynasty?
A) Mongols
B) Vikings
C) Franks
D) Seljuk Turks
  • 3. Who was the last ruler of the Komnenos dynasty before the Angelos dynasty took over?
A) Andronikos I Komnenos
B) John II Komnenos
C) Manuel I Komnenos
D) Alexios II Komnenos
  • 4. What was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire during the Komnenos dynasty?
A) Nicaea
B) Adrianople
C) Constantinople
D) Thessaloniki
  • 5. Which historical figure was associated with the Komnenos dynasty as the wife of Alexios I Komnenos?
A) Theodora Porphyrogenita
B) Anna Komnene
C) Eudokia Makrembolitissa
D) Irene Doukaina
  • 6. What was the primary language used in the Byzantine Empire under the Komnenos dynasty?
A) Syriac
B) Armenian
C) Greek
D) Latin
  • 7. Who succeeded Alexios I Komnenos as emperor of the Byzantine Empire?
A) Theodore I Komnenos
B) Andronikos I Komnenos
C) Manuel I Komnenos
D) John II Komnenos
  • 8. Who initiated the First Crusade and sought help from Alexios I Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire?
A) Richard the Lionheart
B) Saladin
C) Frederick Barbarossa
D) Pope Urban II
  • 9. How long did the Komnenos dynasty rule the Byzantine Empire?
A) 150 years
B) 200 years
C) 75 years
D) 104 years
  • 10. Which Crusade did Alexios I play a key role in bringing about?
A) The Third Crusade
B) The Fourth Crusade
C) The First Crusade
D) The Second Crusade
  • 11. What was the approximate number of 'Latins' residing in Constantinople during the Komnenian period?
A) 100,000–120,000
B) 30–40,000
C) 60–80,000
D) 10–20,000
  • 12. Which Byzantine successor states were founded during the Komnenian period?
A) Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria
B) Nicaea, Epirus, and Trebizond
C) Athens, Sparta, and Delphi
D) Constantinople, Thessaloniki, and Corinth
  • 13. What was a major factor in the weakening of Byzantium's military structure before Alexios I Komnenos' reign?
A) The construction of new fortifications
B) The establishment of the theme system
C) The expansion under the Macedonian dynasty
D) The growing influence and power of the aristocracy
  • 14. Who led a successful campaign against the Normans before being recalled to Constantinople?
A) Romanos Diogenes
B) Michael Doukas
C) George Maniakes
D) Alexios I Komnenos
  • 15. Which city hosted a famous summer fair that attracted traders from across the Balkans during the Komnenian period?
A) Corinth
B) Constantinople
C) Athens
D) Thessaloniki
  • 16. What economic activity fueled a thriving economy in Corinth during the Komnenian period?
A) Silk production
B) Olive oil trade
C) Wine production
D) Grain farming
  • 17. What was the outcome of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071?
A) The Seljuks were defeated by the Fatimids.
B) Emperor Romanos Diogenes suffered a surprise defeat.
C) The Byzantines won decisively.
D) It ended in a stalemate.
  • 18. What was one significant outcome of Manuel's fortification efforts in Asia Minor?
A) Byzantines controlled all the rich agricultural lowlands.
B) They lost control over the entire peninsula to the Turks.
C) The Byzantine army was completely destroyed.
D) The Turks gained significant territory.
  • 19. Which city experienced rapid and sustained growth starting from the eleventh century?
A) Thessaloniki
B) Corinth
C) Constantinople
D) Athens
  • 20. What was the name of the formidable guards unit known for its heavy cavalry stationed in Constantinople?
A) Varangian Guard
B) Kataphraktoi
C) The 'Immortals'
D) Archontopouloi
  • 21. What military technique is inferred to have been introduced by Manuel I?
A) Shield wall
B) The couched lance technique
C) Phalanx formation
D) Testudo formation
  • 22. What was Emperor Romanos Diogenes' fate after his capture?
A) He suffered a horrific death by torture.
B) He became an ally of the Normans.
C) He negotiated peace with the Seljuks.
D) He was released and reinstated as emperor.
  • 23. Why did Alexios I send ambassadors to Pope Urban II in 1095?
A) To discuss trade agreements with Western Europe
B) To negotiate a peace treaty with the Normans
C) To request financial aid for rebuilding Constantinople
D) To ask for reinforcements from Europe against the Seljuks
  • 24. Who led the first group of crusaders that Alexios sent to Asia Minor?
A) Godfrey of Bouillon
B) Urban II
C) Peter the Hermit
D) Bohemund
  • 25. Which unit was recruited by Alexios I from the sons of dead Byzantine officers?
A) 'Immortals'
B) The Archontopouloi
C) Vardariots
D) Varangian Guard
  • 26. What did Alexios I Komnenos anticipate receiving from the West?
A) Aid for internal conflicts
B) Mercenary forces
C) Art and culture
D) Religious leaders
  • 27. What major loss did Byzantium suffer in 1073?
A) Turkoman tribesmen moved into Anatolia.
B) The entire Balkan region was conquered by the Normans.
C) The empire lost control over Constantinople.
D) Venetian traders took over Byzantine trade routes.
  • 28. Which dynasty followed the Komnenian period in Byzantine history?
A) The Angeloi
B) The Palaiologos
C) The Laskaris
D) The Doukas
  • 29. What role did the Varangian Guard play in John II's victories?
A) They were used primarily for naval engagements.
B) They played no significant role in his campaigns.
C) They were elite troops that helped decisively crush the Pecheneg invaders at Beroia.
D) They defected to the enemy during battles.
  • 30. What was the name of the cavalry unit recruited from Christianised Magyars?
A) Varangian Guard
B) 'Immortals'
C) Trebizond Archers
D) The Vardariots
  • 31. From which defeated peoples were soldiers recruited as settlers stationed at Nicomedia?
A) The Normans
B) The Magyars
C) The Pechenegs
D) The Serbs
  • 32. What was one of the significant impacts of Andronikos I's 'anti-Latin' policy?
A) It strengthened alliances with Western European states.
B) It increased hostility towards Byzantium in the west.
C) It resulted in economic prosperity through trade.
D) It led to a peaceful coexistence with Latin territories.
  • 33. What was the new gold coin issued by Alexios called?
A) Ducat.
B) Solidus.
C) The hyperpyron.
D) Nomisma.
  • 34. Which division was maintained under John II Komnenos?
A) The Thracian division
B) The Macedonian division
C) The Anatolian division
D) The Paphlagonian division
  • 35. What was Alexios I's strategy to rebuild the Byzantine army?
A) Building a new force based on feudal grants (próniai)
B) Implementing conscription across the empire
C) Recruiting mercenaries from Western Europe
D) Forming alliances with neighboring empires
  • 36. Which Byzantine general accompanied the second group of crusaders?
A) Stephen of Blois
B) Alexios I Komnenos
C) Tatikios
D) Bohemund
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