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- 3. (czar): Tsar, or czar, is a title historically used for the emperors or monarchs of Russia. It originated from the Latin term "Caesar" and was adopted by the rulers of the Russian Empire, signifying their supreme authority over the realm.
- 4. Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. Founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 AD, it served as the political, cultural, and economic center of the Byzantine world for over a millennium.
- 8. Mosaics are intricate artistic compositions created by assembling small colored pieces, typically tiles, glass, or stones, to form patterns or images.
- 10. In the context of Christianity, a patriarch is a senior bishop or ecclesiastical leader, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Patriarchs are heads of autocephalous (self-governing) churches or regional jurisdictions.
- 11. The steppe is a vast, treeless grassland ecosystem characterized by a continental climate, found in Eurasia and North America. It is often associated with nomadic pastoralism and played a significant role in the history and culture of various nomadic peoples.
- 12. Horde: The Golden Horde was a Mongol-Tatar khanate established in the 13th century after the Mongol conquest of the Kievan Rus'. It controlled vast territories in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, exerting significant influence over trade and politics in the region.
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- 1. Sophia: Hagia Sophia is a historic cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey, originally built as a Christian church in the 6th century AD under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It later served as a mosque and is now a museum, renowned for its architectural beauty and cultural significance.
- 2. Code: Justinian's Code refers to the legal code of ancient Rome, compiled under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD. It formed the basis of civil law in the Byzantine Empire and had a significant influence on subsequent legal systems in Europe.
- 5. Icons are religious images, typically depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints, or biblical scenes, venerated by Eastern Orthodox Christians. They are used in prayer and worship and are considered windows to the divine.
- 6. Schism: The Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, was the formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054 AD. It resulted from theological, cultural, and political differences, leading to the establishment of separate churches.
- 7. alphabet: The Cyrillic alphabet is an alphabet derived from the Greek alphabet and used for writing many Slavic languages, as well as other languages of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. It was developed in the 9th century by Saints Cyril and Methodius.
- 9. Orthodox: Greek Orthodox refers to the branch of Christianity that follows the traditions, teachings, and ecclesiastical structure of the Eastern Orthodox Church, particularly prevalent in Greece and other parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.