Medieval and Byzantine Art

Joachim's sacrifice

Hi all

I love art - doing it and looking at it - so having experienced a Renaissance Festival, watched TV programmes on Medieval English Embroidery and Luxury in the Medieval times, and made Medieval Oatcakes, I thought it was high time that I did a listening exercise on Medieval Art!

I found this fantastic presentation about Medieval and Byzantine art. I found it very entertaining and informative and hope you do too.

Here is the link Medieval and Byzantine Art  and the questions are below:

1 The first Empire that is described is the ............................ Empire.

2 Who was the ruler who had to decide the "thorny question"* of succession?

3 Who did he give it to and in which year?

4 What did each part become known as and what languages did they speak?

5 Which groups of people invaded the Western Empire and how many years did the Empire survive after Theodosius's death?

6 How long did the Byzantine Empire last?

7 What unified the empires?

8 Based on a strict interpretation of the 10 commandments, what did Leo III decree in 730 AD?

9 What was Pope Gregory II's reaction to this?

10 As a result of having more creative freedom, what did Western artists produce and how was it different from the Byzantine artists who were allowed to produce art eventually?

Some of the vocabulary used in this recording is explained below:

*a thorny question - a question that is painfully controversial

To come down to - to result in

to break up - this is a multi-word verb with several meanings but here it means to destroy.

"Caught in the act" - found doing something which is not allowed


a scoundrel - a person who is disreputable, a rogue, a villain


Check your understanding (http://www.thefreedictionary.com):

Vandalism comes from the Vandals who invaded Western Europe. Nowadays, it refers to wilful or malicious destruction of public or private property.

Iconoclasm is the practice of destroying images, particularly of a religious nature.

Iconoclast is a person who destroys sacred images or seeks to overthrow popular beliefs, traditions or institutions.

That's all for today but drop by for the answers