Materials

• A teacher-developed quiz about the Byzantine Empire
• “Byzantine Map Practice” handout (Attachment A)
• Maps of the Byzantine Empire
• Photograph or sketch of the Hagia Sophia

Instructional Activities

NOTE: The following Web resource may be helpful in teaching this session:

•“The Byzantine Monuments.” <http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Hagia_Sophia.html>

1. Review content from the previous session.
   
   
2. Distribute the teacher-developed Byzantine quiz, and have students complete it.
   
   
3. After students have completed the quiz, explain that Byzantine’s geographic proximity and location (situation) near trade routes allowed diffusion to flow from the Byzantines to the Slavs, who created Russia. Review with students the “Byzantine Map Practice” handout they completed in Session 1. Ask them a question such as the following:
   How has your understanding of this handout increased since Session 1?
   
   
4. Find or sketch a picture of the Hagia Sophia. For photographs of the Hagia Sophia, see the Web site above, titled “The Byzantine Monuments.” Ask students to identify it by name and to describe its architectural structures.