Basil II

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/basil-ii

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Basil II born?958
2. When did Basil II die?December 15, 1025
3. Where was Basil II born?Constantinople, Byzantine Empire
4. What is the fun fact?His reign is the longest of any emperor in Roman history
5. Who was Basil II and why is he called 'Bulgar Slayer'?Basil II was a Byzantine emperor who ruled for almost 50 years. He earned the nickname 'Bulgar Slayer' because he fought many battles against the First Bulgarian Empire and finally defeated them.
6. How did Basil II become emperor when he was a child?He was crowned as a child together with his brother, but real power was held by regents and generals. When he grew older, he took control and ruled on his own.

Byzantine Empire: The continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, centered in Constantinople, existing from the 4th to the 15th century.
Porphyrogenitus: A title indicating birth within the imperial palace's purple chamber, signifying legitimate imperial lineage.
First Bulgarian Empire: A medieval Balkan state that was a major rival to the Byzantine Empire for centuries.
Kievan Rus': A medieval state formation in Eastern Europe, considered the precursor to modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.