Empress Theodora Analysis Worksheet
Empress Theodora & Byzantine Governance
Primary Source & Historical Impact Worksheet
World History • Unit 3
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Historical Context: The Power of Empress Theodora (c. 500–548 CE)
Born into a humble circus family, Empress Theodora rose to become co-ruler alongside Emperor Justinian I. Uniquely powerful for a woman in the ancient world, she received foreign dignitaries, helped shape imperial treaties, and successfully championed reforms in the Justinian Code that expanded women's property ownership, outlawed forced prostitution, and granted mothers guardianship of their children.
“May I never be separated from this purple, and may I never live that day on which those who meet me shall not address me as mistress. If you wish to save yourself, my lord, there is no difficulty... but as for myself, I approve a certain ancient saying: that royalty is a good burial shroud.” — Theodora during the Nika Riots (532 CE), recorded by Procopius
Part I: Multiple Choice Analysis
1. Empress Theodora held significant influence in the Byzantine Empire by doing which of the following?
A Advising the Pope to ban icons in the Western Church.
B Leading military invasions against the Ottoman Empire in 1453.
C Translating the Qu'ran into Latin for European scholars.
D Meeting with foreign envoys, passing laws, and protecting women’s rights.
2. How did Theodora’s speech during the 532 CE Nika Riots directly change the course of Justinian’s reign?
A Convinced Justinian to remain and fight, saving his throne.
B Persuaded the rebels to crown her supreme monarch.
C Encouraged imperial evacuation to Rome by ship.
D Dissolved the Senate and abolished all taxation.
Part II: Primary Source & Policy Analysis
3. In the excerpt above, what did Theodora mean by “royalty is a good burial shroud”? What does this reveal about her view of power?
4. Describe two specific ways Empress Theodora improved the legal rights and social standing of women in Byzantine society.
Byzantine Empire • Empress Theodora Corpus Juris Civilis Historical Study Page 1 of 1
