Download Study guide for Late Middle Ages

Study guide for Middle Ages
1. Who was Charlemagne?
King of the Franks who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor
Conquered and controlled most land in Western Europe since the Roman
Empire
Emphasized Christianity and Education
2. What is feudalism?
It was the political and social system of the Middle Ages
Started with the need for protection after the Roman Empire [central
government] fell apart
It provided stability by creating a rigid class system
Power based on land ownership
Characterized by the exchange of land for military service/loyalty
o Vassal receives land in exchange for service
3. What was manoralism?
It was the economic system of the Middle Ages
It was based on farming [agriculture]
The manor was self-sufficient
Serfs worked the land in exchange for protection
4. What is the role of a knight?
They were the warrior class
Similar to samurai in Japan
5. What was the role of the Church in the Middle Ages?
Church was a unifying institution
Church collected a tax called a tithe [10% of income]
6. What were the Crusades?
A series of religious wars fought between Christians and Muslims from the
late 1000s to the mid-1200s
Called for by Pope Urban II
7. What was the goal of the crusaders?
To regain control of the Holy Land (Palestine/Jerusalem) from the Muslims
8. What were the causes for the Crusades?
Free Holy Land from Muslim control
Pope wanted to increase his power
Nobles wanted to gain wealth and land
Chance for adventure
Serfs wanted to escape feudal manor
9. What happened during the first Crusade?
Christians were successful in controlling the Holy Land
Christian captured city of Jerusalem and massacred Muslim and Jewish
inhabitants
10. What happened during the last (fourth) Crusade?
Christians were diverted from their attempt to regain Jerusalem and
knights began attacking the city of Constantinople [fighting other
Christians]
11. What were some of the major results of the Crusades?
Increased trade between Europe and Middle East- Europeans wanted
goods from East
o Led to growth of towns and cities
Encouragement of learning
o Cultural diffusion
Hatred between different religious groups
Feudal kings gained power
Feudal system weakens
12. How did the development of towns and cities change Western Europe in the
later Middle Ages?
Rise in Middle Class [burghers]
New ways of doing business- Commercial Revolution
Guilds were created [organization of skilled workers]
13. What new farming techniques were introduced?
Three- field system- farmers grew crops on 2/3 of land and allowed 1/3 to
lay fallow
o Farmers could grow more food and feed more people
o More food leads to population growth
14. Which countries fought during the Hundred Years War?
England and France fought for land in France and over the throne of
France
15. Who did Joan of Arc say was speaking to her?
Joan said that God spoke to her through his angels
16. What did Joan of Arc want to do?
Joan wanted to lead the French Army against the English in order to have
Charles VII crowned King of France
17. What was the result of the trial of Joan of Arc?
Joan was accused of being a witch and of heresy [breaking church laws]
She was burned at the stake
18. What was the bubonic plague?
A highly contagious disease spread by the fleas that lived on rats
19. Where did the plague come from?
The outbreak began in China and spread into Europe through increased
trade
20. How did people react to the plague?
People abandoned families and homes
People despaired
People turned to magic and witchcraft
21. How did it affect the population of Europe?
One in three people died (1/3 of population of Europe)
35 million Chinese died
22. How did it affect the economy?
Farm and industrial production declined
Labor shortage led to workers demanding higher wages
Peasant revolts took place
Global trade was disrupted
Feudal system broke down
23. How did England develop as a nation-state?
William the Conqueror of Normandy won the Battle of Hastings in 1066
He developed the Domesday Book to keep track of population for taxation
Henry II established common laws and set up a trial by jury system
King John was forced to signed the Magna Carta in 1215
o Limited the power of the king [monarch]
o Established concept that king is not above the law, but must obey it