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