Asked by Stephen Holden on May 27, 2024

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Which of the following was the likely reason Emperor Leo III chose to initiate iconoclasm?

A) To prepare for a visit from the Roman pope
B) To commemorate his conversion to Judaism
C) Because artists who created images demanded high wages
D) The loss of almost two-thirds of Byzantine territory

Emperor Leo III

Byzantine Emperor known for initiating the policy of iconoclasm, which involved the destruction of religious images, leading to extensive controversy and conflict within the Empire.

Iconoclasm

The destruction of religious or sacred images. In Byzantium, the period from 726 to 843 when there was an imperial ban on such images. The destroyers of images were known as iconoclasts. Those who opposed such a ban were known as iconophiles.

  • Analyze the influence of the Iconoclasm on the development of Byzantine art and the restoration that followed.
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SB
Stephanie BarillasJun 03, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Emperor Leo III initiated iconoclasm, partly as a response to the severe military and territorial losses the Byzantine Empire suffered, which he interpreted as divine punishment for the veneration of icons. This period saw the empire losing significant territories to the Muslim conquests, and Leo III sought religious and societal reforms to restore divine favor and the empire's fortunes.