Oklahoma Social Studies MWH.C.1.1.G
The Standard
- MWH.C.1
- Analyze the impact of the patterns of ancient political, economic, and cultural development.
- MWH.C.1.1
- Analyze the influence of religious, political, and philosophical ideas on society.
Describe the contributions of the Byzantine Empire, including the significance of the Justinian Code.
Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies (2026) · MWH.C.1.1
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify Byzantine contributions to law, religion, architecture, and trade. They explain why Justinian collected and organized Roman laws and how that work influenced later legal systems.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can name a contribution, give an example such as Hagia Sophia, and explain its effect. They can explain that Justinian preserved and revised existing Roman laws rather than inventing them.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think Justinian invented Roman law instead of collecting and revising existing laws. They may confuse the Byzantine Empire with ancient Greece or assume its laws gave everyone equal rights.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Name one Byzantine contribution besides law and explain its effect. Then write one sentence explaining why Justinian's law collection mattered.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs four cards: Roman laws, Orthodox Christianity, Hagia Sophia, and Constantinople; sort them into law, religion, architecture, and trade.
Ask: Why would collecting Roman laws in one written set help an emperor govern distant provinces?
Play true-or-false: Justinian invented Roman law, Hagia Sophia was a church, Constantinople linked trade routes; students correct each false claim.
Display a school handbook beside a Justinian law excerpt; ask students how written rules help people settle disputes.
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