Question

Which of the following most directly influenced Serbian culture? Select all that apply.

Answer 1

B. Byzantine culture; and
D. Orthodox Christianity

In the Middle Ages, the Kingdom of Serbia was an independent kingdom under the Vlastimirović dynasty.  But after that dynasty faded in the 10th century, Serbian territory fell under Bulgarian or Hungarian or Byzantine control.  The Byzantine influence was long-lasting.  So also was the influence of Orthodox Christianity, which had been adopted as the state religion of Serbia in the 9th century.  By the 13th century, the Serbian Orthodox Church was recognized as an independent partner church within the Eastern Orthodox communion.

Answer 2

Serbian culture was directly influenced by the Byzantine Empire. After their independence, the Sebs were baptized by Greek missionaries. Over the years, the Serbian Orthodox Church gained autocephaly(in other words the head bishop does not report to any higher ranking bishop)  from Constantinople in 1219, the maritime regions were influenced by the Republic of Venice during the middle ages.