The Byzantine Empire: Eastern Roman Legacy

Active learning works particularly well for studying the Byzantine Empire because its complexity—spanning law, trade, religion, and art—benefits from hands-on exploration. Students retain more when they engage with primary sources, simulations, and debates rather than passively reading about a distant empire. These activities make abstract concepts like the Justinian Code or the Great Schism tangible and memorable.

• Grade 11
• Canadian & World Studies
• 3 activities
• 25 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the strategic advantages of Constantinople's geographic location in fostering trade and defense.
2. Explain the theological and political factors that culminated in the Great Schism of 1054.
3. Evaluate the lasting impact of the Justinian Code on the development of Western legal traditions.
4. Compare and contrast the cultural contributions of the Byzantine Empire with those of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Justinian Code

Groups are given modern legal scenarios and must find 'solutions' using excerpts from the Justinian Code. They then compare these to modern Canadian laws to see the enduring influence of Roman legal principles.

Prepare & details

Analyze how the location of Constantinople contributed to its longevity and wealth.

Facilitation Tip: For the Justinian Code activity, provide students with excerpts from the Code alongside modern legal examples so they actively compare and contrast ancient and contemporary principles.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Simulation Game

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Siege of Constantinople

Students map the city's defenses (Theodosian Walls, the Golden Horn chain) and must strategize how to defend it against various historical threats. This emphasizes the role of geography in the empire's longevity.

Prepare & details

Explain the significance of the Great Schism of 1054 for Christianity.

Facilitation Tip: During the Siege of Constantinople simulation, assign roles with clear objectives but require each group to justify their strategies using historical evidence from the lesson.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Great Schism

Pairs are given the perspectives of the Pope in Rome and the Patriarch in Constantinople. They must identify the three biggest points of contention (e.g., icons, authority) and explain why they couldn't reach a compromise.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the influence of the Justinian Code on modern legal systems.

Facilitation Tip: For the Great Schism Think-Pair-Share, give students a short primary source quote from a church leader on each side to ground their discussion in evidence.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teachers often struggle to connect the Byzantines to students’ prior knowledge of Rome, so start with a quick map activity labeling the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. Avoid framing the Byzantines as a separate ‘Greek’ empire—emphasize their continuity with Rome. Research shows that using visuals of the Hagia Sophia’s architecture helps students grasp the empire’s blend of Roman engineering and Christian symbolism. Keep the narrative focused on Constantinople as a living, evolving center of power rather than a static relic.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining how Justinian’s legal reforms shaped modern systems. They should articulate the strategic importance of Constantinople’s location and compare Eastern and Western Christianity after the Great Schism. Most importantly, they should challenge the idea that the Middle Ages were culturally stagnant by citing Byzantine achievements in science, art, and law.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Collaborative Investigation: The Justinian Code activity, watch for students labeling Byzantine legal texts as 'foreign' or 'different.'

What to Teach Instead

Use the activity’s primary source excerpts to highlight Byzantine letters or decrees that explicitly call themselves 'Roman,' then have students rewrite a modern law in the style of Justinian’s Code to see the parallels.

Common Misconception

During the Simulation: The Siege of Constantinople activity, students may assume the Middle Ages had no cultural progress.

What to Teach Instead

After the simulation, pause to analyze a primary source like a Byzantine medical text or a description of the Hagia Sophia’s dome as evidence of advancements, then ask students to compare it to Western European examples from the same period.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the Simulation: The Siege of Constantinople, pose the question: 'Imagine you are a merchant in the 12th century. How would the location of Constantinople benefit your trade routes and your personal safety?' Use student responses to assess their understanding of geography, trade networks, and the empire’s strategic role.

Quick Check

During the Collaborative Investigation: The Justinian Code, provide students with a short, anonymous paragraph describing a legal principle. Ask them to identify whether it aligns with the Justinian Code or a modern legal system, and to explain their reasoning in one sentence.

Exit Ticket

After the Think-Pair-Share: The Great Schism, have students write two sentences explaining the significance of the Great Schism for Christianity and one sentence describing a cultural element preserved by the Byzantine Empire to assess their grasp of religious division and legacy.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Have early finishers research and present on how Justinian’s plague impacted the empire’s military and economic strength, using data from historical sources.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters for students who struggle in the Great Schism activity, such as: 'The East focused on ___, while the West emphasized ___.'
• Deeper exploration: Assign a research project on how Byzantine art influenced Renaissance artists, requiring students to compare specific mosaics or icons with later works.

Key Vocabulary

Constantinople	The capital city of the Byzantine Empire, strategically located on the Bosporus Strait, serving as a center for trade, culture, and religion.
Justinian Code	A comprehensive compilation and codification of Roman law ordered by Emperor Justinian I, influencing legal systems for centuries.
Great Schism	The formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054, driven by theological and political differences.
Hagia Sophia	A magnificent architectural achievement in Constantinople, originally a Christian basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum, symbolizing Byzantine architectural prowess.
Iconoclasm	A historical movement within the Byzantine Church that rejected religious images, leading to widespread destruction of art and religious objects.