Byzantine, Russia, Eastern Europe 300-1615

A geographic area in Southeast Europe, known as a crossroads of cultures. Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan Peninsula is a region historically known for its diverse cultures and frequent conflicts due to its strategic location between major empires.

The ancient city of Byzantium which became the capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine. Constantinople. Constantinople is the historical city that was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and later became modern-day Istanbul.

A writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. Cyrillic. It is an alphabet developed in the First Bulgarian Empire in the 9th century, widely used by many Slavic and non-Slavic peoples.

A formal deliberative assembly. Diet. A diet is a historical term for a meeting or assembly where important decisions were made, often used in the context of the Holy Roman Empire.

A group of people who identify with each other on the basis of common language, nation, society etc., ethnic group. In history, an ethnic group is a community of people sharing a common cultural heritage and ancestry.

A one of the first examples of constitutional limits being placed on the powers of a European monarch. Golden Bull of 1222. The Golden Bull of 1222 was a decree issued by the Hungarian King Andrew II, limiting royal power and granting rights to the nobility.

A Mongol and later Turkicized khaganate established in the 13th century. Golden Horde. The Golden Horde was a powerful empire in medieval Eurasia, predominantly Mongol-Turkic, that controlled parts of Russia and Eastern Europe.

A sacred image used in religious devotion. Icon. In history, an icon is a religious artwork, often a painting, revered in various Christian traditions.

A Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. Ivan the Great. Ivan the Great was a ruler who expanded Moscow's territory and centralized power in Russia during the late 15th century.

The Grand Prince of Moscow and the first Tsar of Russia. Ivan the Terrible. He was a ruler known for expanding Russia and his harsh rule.

The Eastern Roman emperor and saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Justinian. Justinian was a Byzantine emperor famous for his large-scale building projects, codification of Roman law, and attempts to reconquer lost Western territories.

One part of the Corpus Juris Civilis, the codification of Roman law, is Justinian's Code. Justinian's Code is a collection of laws and legal interpretations developed under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I to systematize and organize Roman law.

One of the oldest cities of Eastern Europe, played a pivotal role in the development of the East Slavic civilization. Kiev is the historical capital of Ukraine.

A high-ranking bishop in certain Orthodox and Catholic churches. Patriarch. In history, a patriarch is a leading bishop who holds authority over other bishops in certain Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches.

An ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees. Steppe. Historically, steppes have been home to nomadic tribes and facilitated trade routes like the Silk Road.

An Eastern Roman empress by marriage to Justinian and a saint in the Orthodox Church. Theodora. She was a powerful and influential Byzantine empress known for her intelligence and strong support of women's rights.