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