Europe: Ch1 Early History

Question 1

city-state

Answer 1

a political unit consisting of a city and its surrounding countryside

Question 2

golden age

Answer 2

a period in a society’s history marked by great achievements

Question 3

Hellenistic

Answer 3

Greek-like; heavily influenced by Greek ideas

Question 4

citizen

Answer 4

a person who has the right to take part in government

Question 5

republic

Answer 5

a political system in which people elect leaders to govern them

Question 6

Senate

Answer 6

a council of rich and powerful Romans who helped run the city

Question 7

empire

Answer 7

land with different territories and peoples under a single rule

Question 8

aqueduct

Answer 8

A human-made raised channel that carries water from distant places

Question 9

Middle Ages

Answer 9

a period that lasted from about 500 to 1500 in Europe

Question 10

Crusades

Answer 10

a long series of wars between Christians and Muslims in Southwest Asia fought for control of the Holy Land; took place from 1096 to 1291

Question 11

pope

Answer 11

the spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church

Question 12

Gothic architecture

Answer 12

a style of architecture in Europe known for its high pointed ceilings, tall towers, and stained glass windows

Question 13

feudal system

Answer 13

the system of obligations that governed the relationships between lords and vassals in medieval Europe

Question 14

manor

Answer 14

a large estate owned by a knight or lord

Question 15

nation-state

Answer 15

a country united under a single strong government; made up of people with a common cultural background

Question 16

Pericles

Answer 16

Athenian leader, he encouraged the spread of democracy and led Athens when the city was at its height

Question 17

Aristotle

Answer 17

Greek philosopher, he taught that people should live lives of moderation and use reason in their lives

Question 18

Alexander the Great

Answer 18

Macedonian ruler, he was one of the greatest military commanders in history

Question 19

Julius Caesar

Answer 19

Roman general, he conquered most of Gaul and was named dictator for life but was later murdered by a group of senators

Question 20

Augustus

Answer 20

First Roman emperor, he was originally named Octavian. As emperor, Augustus built many monuments and a new forum

Question 21

Constantine

Answer 21

Roman emperor, he was the first Roman emperor to become a Christian

Question 22

Joan of Arc

Answer 22

French peasant gir, she rallied French troops during the Hundred Years’ War and became a nationa hero

Question 23

Democracy was first practiced in which city-state of ancient Greece

Answer 23

Athens

Question 24

A large estate owned by a noble or knight in the Middle Ages was called a

Answer 24

manor

Question 25

The first Roman emperor to become a Christian was named

Answer 25

Constantine

Question 26

Which of the following was first created in the Middle Ages: aqueducts, Gothic architecture, drama, democracy

Answer 26

Gothic architecture

Question 27

The blended culture that was created in Alexander the Great’s empire is called

Answer 27

Hellenistic

Question 28

Study the map here: http://www.ancientmilitary.com/images/roman-empire.gif

The area shown in orange on this map was ruled by the

Answer 28

Romans

Question 29

Which document limited the powers of the king of England

Answer 29

Magna Carta

Question 30

Much of Europe was unified under a single government in 117 A.D. By the Middle Ages, though, that government had fallen apart.

What are two ways in which European society was different in the Middle Ages than it had been in earlier times.

Answer 30

• Europe was ruled by many small kingdoms
• Christian church gained influence across all of Europe
• William the Conquerer conquered England and built a strong government
• A group of nobles forced King John to sign the Magna Carta, limiting the king’s power
• The Black Death kill a third of the population

Question 31

Peasant

Answer 31

A free farmer

Question 32

Serf

Answer 32

Not quite slaves, but they were not allowed to leave the land they worked on

Question 33

Why did the pope call for a crusade

Answer 33

To take control of the holy land

Question 34

How did the Christian church affect art in the Middle Ages?

Answer 34

Painters and sculptors used religious subjects in their works. Most music and literature from the period is centered on religious themes

Question 35

What made the feudal system so complex?

Answer 35

Its rules varied from kingdom to kingdom and changed constantly. It was also possible for knights to owe service to more than one noble, which would cause problems if the nobles went to war with each other.

Question 36

How did the Black Death affect Europe?

Answer 36

The decrease in population caused a labor shortage, which allowed people to demand higher wages for their work

Question 37

How did England’s government change after 1000 A.D.?

Answer 37

William the Conqueror overthrew the old king and created a strong government. Later kings continued the trend of increasingly stronger governments.

Question 38

What was the government of the Roman Republic like?

Answer 38

People elected leaders to make laws for them. The Senate helped run the city. Speeches and debates were common.

Question 39

How was Rome’s government in the republic unlike the government under kings?

Answer 39

Kings ruled however they wanted, often in cruel and unfair ways. In the republic, citizens had a say in what happened.

Question 40

How did the Pax Romana help the Romans make great achievements?

Answer 40

Trade increased and money on cultural and engineering accomplishments instead of war

Question 41

How did Rome’s emperors affect the spread of Christianity

Answer 41

At first they were worried about it and fought against it, often persecuting Christians. That didn’t work, though. Eventually the persecution stopped and Constantine became a Christian himself. From that point forward, Christianity was openly accepted throughout the empire.

Question 42

What threats to the Roman Empire appeared in the 200s, 300s, and 400s?

Answer 42

A series of bad emperors in the 200s followed by invasions in the 300s and 400s.