Download The European Middle Ages Study Guide-Chapter 13

The European Middle Ages Study Guide
1. After the fall of the Roman Empire, what institution unified Europe?
The Catholic Church
2. How did invasions trigger changes in Western Europe?
“Barbarian” invaders attacked Western Europe and the Roman army could not defend the borders forever.
These trubes carved up the Western Roman Empire and created their own independct kingsmd (Franks,
Goths, Ostrogoth, Vandals etc.)
3. Which Germanic tribe founded a large empire in Western Europe in the 8th century? The Franks
4. What is the significance of Charlemagne’s crowning by Pope Leo III? Pope Leo III signaled that the Church is
above any secular king and Charlemagne cements an alliance with the Church.
5. Who was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800 A.D.? Charlemagne
6. What was the effect of the creation of the Holy Roman Empire? It was the first major unified empire in Western
Europe after the fall of Rome.
7. Who were the Magyars, and where did they come from? A group of Central European raiders who terrorized
Eastern Europe in the 700s and 800s AD.
8. Who were the Vikings, and where did they come from? A group of Scandinavian raiders who terrorized Western
Europe in the 700s and 800s AD.
9. Describe the feudal system as seen in Europe during the Middle Ages.
The feudal system was the social and political system of the Middle Ages in Europe. The king could not control or
defend all land by himself, so he granted land (fiefs) to his loyal and titles followers (Nobles). In return, they were
expected to give him total loyalty and call their knight to help the king if he needed. Nobles then gave land to knights.
Knights were expected to provide military service and give hospitality/loyalty in return.
10. Draw the feudal pyramid (the social order of the Middle Ages).
11. Who held the lowest social position on an estate in medieval Europe and how were their freedoms limited? Serfs
12. What is the manorial system? The manor system was the economic system of the Middle Ages in Europe. It
centered around the land (fief) given to a lord or knight. The land was worked by peasants and were self-sufficient in
a time when trade was very limited. Manors had a manor house for the lord to live in, lands for farming, orchards,
forest for hunting, a church, blacksmiths and other trades, and a small village where peasants lived. The lowest
status peasants were called serfs and were not allowed to leave the lords land.
13. What were the Crusades? Holy Wars between the Christians in Europe and the Muslims in the Middle East
from the 11th to 13th centuries AD.
Who were the important people?
Pope Urban II: He was the pope who originally called for the Crusades.
Saladin: Muslim leader who led the effort to retake Jerusalem.
Richard the Lionhart of England: English king who helped to lead the 3rd Crusade.
14. What were the effects of the Crusades? Increased trade and transfer of knowledge with the Middle East,
increased wealth of the church, legacy of bitterness between Muslims and Christians, contributed to the decline
of the feudal system.
15. How did the plague begin? What were some economic effects of the plague? Infected fleas on rats from Asia
hopped on trading ships headed to Europe. Increased wages of surviving laborers, decreased the cost of food
since there were fewer people to eat it.
16. Who fought in The Hundred Years’ War? What were the outcomes?
France v. England. The French and English did not sign a treaty but France gained almost all of English-held land in
France and unified its lands by taking over independent kingdoms like Burgundy and Flanders.
17. Who was Joan of Arc and why was she important?
Joan was a French peasant-turned-solider after claiming to have heard voice from God telling her to raise an army
to fight the English during the Hundred Years’ War. She was captured by the English and found guilty of heresy by
the Catholic Church and burned at the stake. She was a national hero for the French.
18. Describe 3 ways that the Magna Carta influenced the US legal system.
The Magna Carta introduces the idea of 1) limited government, 2) fair laws and punishments, 3) trials by peers etc.
19. Describe how Henry II changed the English legal system? Introduced impartial travelling juges and did away
with trials by ordeal. He introduced trials by jury as well.
20. Why was King John of England unpopular with his nobles? He raised taxes and lost English territory. He did not
use the legal system (using trials by peers, travelling judges) set up by his father, King Henry II.
21. What did they force him to do at Runnymede? The nobles of England forced King John to sign the Magna Carta,
a document which would limit his powers as king.
22. What was the hierarchy of the Catholic Church?
23. What were the institutions that monks and nuns lived in called? Monks: monastery Nuns: Convent
24. What did monks/nuns do for the community? Provided schools, brewed beer, provided medical care and care for
the poor
25. Why did they live in this type of community? To live a life devoted to God without the influence of the outside or
“sin-filled” world
26. Describe a trial by ordeal: a method used in the early Middle Ages to determine a person's guilt or innocence
by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under God’s will; escape was
usually taken as a sign of innocence because God was protecting that person.