Web Explorations

Anna Comnena

These sites lend insight into the life of Anna Comnena, a notable Byzantine historian.

http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine5.html and
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01531a.htm

Questions for exploration:

What frustrated Anna in her ambitions to rise to a place of power in Byzantine society? What other obstacles did a woman face in obtaining a wider participation in society or view of the world? Why did she despise the Crusaders from western Europe who were ostensibly coming to the aid of Byzantium against the Muslims? Historians often seek underlying processes that might determine events. What forces does Anna Comnena find at work that thwarted success at the siege of Durazzo? What technologies were employed at the siege of Durazzo?

Orthodox Church

This offers a short history of the Orthodox Church.

http://www.goarch.org/access/orthodoxy/

Questions for exploration:

What are the chief characteristics of Orthodox Christianity? What views do Orthodox Christianity share with Catholic Christianity? With Protestants? What are the chief obstacles, from an Orthodox perspective, that stand in the way of reuniting the Christian world?

Emperor Justinian

This site explores the reign of Emperor Justinian.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/procop-wars4-9.html

Questions for exploration:

What was Justinian’s major concern during his reign and how was that reflected in his military campaigns and his legal reforms? Did he succeed in this effort? How do historians judge his administration?

Icons and Iconoclasm

The Byzantine authorities were embarrassed by Muslims who charged that they were idol-worshippers due to the Byzantine reverence for icons or holy images. These officials, however, had many reasons for attempting to ban the icons (iconoclasm).

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/johndamascus-images.html and http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/nicea2-dec.html

Questions for exploration:

What forces fed the iconoclastic movement? How was the issue resolved?

Saints Cyril and Methodius

These sites explore the lives of two men canonized for their work in spreading Christianity among the Slavic-speaking peoples of eastern Europe.

http://www.omda.bg/engl/history/kiril&meth.html,
http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/Christianity/StCyril.html, and

Questions for exploration:

Kevian Rus and Novgorod

These sites offer an introduction to two of the earliest Russian states, Kiev and Novgorod.

http://www.bartleby.com/65/ki/KievanRu.html
http://www.novgorod.ru/english/city/history/lnovg/eng/

Questions for exploration:

Why is it difficult to trace the origins of the Russian people? What ancient trade route accounts for the rise of Kiev and Novgorod? What large-scale historical movement of peoples was Novgorod spared?

Empress Theodora

This site explores the life of one of the most powerful people of the Byzantine world, the Empress Theodora.

Questions for exploration:

How did Theodora’s early life illuminate the conflicts within early Christianity? What rule did Justinian have to suspend to marry Theodora? What was her role in the Nika Revolt that may have saved the empire? What city did she reshape in her later years?