Feudal Europe

Question 1

English Channel

Answer 1

A river that separated the islands of Britain and Ireland from the rest of Europe

Question 2

Roman Catholic Church
(Social classes, pope’s, and negative and positive impacts)

Answer 2

Social Status: Kings and popes would trade off of who had the most power. At times kings were more powerful and at times popes were more powerful.

Pope: The title “pope” was restricted to the bishop of rome.

Positive effects: Positive impacts included providing comfort and explaining social classes and economic order.

Negative effects: Having restrictive social classes, targeting Jews, inserting themselves into Christian lives, and controlling scientific teachings.

Question 3

Feudalism

Answer 3

A system of exchange where land is exchanged for protection and service.

Question 4

Fief

Answer 4

A feudal estate belonging to a vassal

Question 5

Trial Jury

Answer 5

A group of citizens that decides whether an accused person is innocent or guilty

Question 6

Crusades

Answer 6

Holy war

Question 7

Code of Chivalry
(HINT: 5 rules)

Answer 7

A vow knights had to recite swearing…
1. To do no wicked deed
2. To be loyal to the King
3. To give mercy to those asking it
4. Always be courteous and helpful to ladies
5. Fight in no wrongful quarrel for worldly gain

Question 8

Charlemagne

Answer 8

A title earned by king Charles after his conquests and success in expanding the empire

Question 9

Pope

Answer 9

A bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church

Question 10

Vassal

Answer 10

A person under the protection of a lord to whom he has vowed loyalty; a low-ranking noble under the protection of a feudal lord

Question 11

Knights

Answer 11

A European warrior

Question 12

Magna Carta

Answer 12

A document placed political, economic, and religious limits on king John’s power

Question 13

Black Plague/Death

Answer 13

Plague: A disease that spreads quickly and kills many people
Black Plague: A disease that came to Europe through flea’s on the backs of rats. The disease killed a third of Europe’s population and millions worldwide.

Question 14

Serfs

Answer 14

A member of the peasant class tied to the land and subject to the will of the landowner

Question 15

Describe Europe’s Feudal Structure.

Answer 15

An agreement between lords and nobles in which lords, who were higher in the social structure, gave land to nobles, who in return promised loyalty and protection. Nobles trained warriors who would keep the lords safe. Feudalism also stressed the laws of God and that you must obey God.

Question 16

How was Europe’s Feudal Structure similar to Japan’s?

(HINT: 4 similarities)

Answer 16

• military duties and training (both started training at very young age, wore heavy metal armor in battle and fought on horseback)
• Both were taught spiritually.
• Both had to swear loyalty to masters and swear to follow rules of code (Bushido for samurais and Code of Chivalry for Knights

Question 17

How was Europe’s Feudal Structure different from Japan’s?

(HINT: 3 differences)

Answer 17

• In Europe, nobles would train knights. In Japan, samurais were trained (warriors were diverse in their training and the skills required to hold title).
• Different loyalty obligations. (son of a samurai had to be a samurai, son of knight able to discontinue generation of knights and decline the job)
• Tolerance of female warriors (in Europe, knight = man’s job, prohibited for women. In Japan, women samurais = accepted

Question 18

What was the importance of stained glass?

Answer 18

Stained glass often presented scenes from life and teachings of Jesus. Many people were illiterate so they were taught the lessons of the bible visually, through the stained glass. Stained glass also let in sunlight which symbolized the divine light of God.

Question 19

Explain tithes and indulgences. Why did medieval societies uphold these practices?

Answer 19

The pope told people that they could buy indulgences to be free of sins and enter heaven. In reality, this was all an effort to make money.

Question 20

Explain King John’s rule and how it influenced the Magna Carta. Why was the Magna Carta created?

Answer 20

King John increased taxes on his people and put his enemies in jail without trial. This angered his people, causing them to force King John to sign the Magna Carta. This put limits on the kings religious, economic, and political power.

Question 21

What caused the Crusades? What were some reasons for joining?

Answer 21

Cause: Pope Urban II asked European nobles to begin a crusade against the Muslim Turks. He urged them to capture Jerusalem and free the Holy Land where Jesus had lived, from Muslims.

Economic Advantages
- No interest on debt
- Able to trade in their land and possessions for money if their lord or relatives were unable to pay (helped pay for things such as food and housing)

Religion
- God said to grant forgiveness to any wrong doings or sins committed if you joined the crusades
- Guilted into joining the crusades, considered the sons of God, and said to have promised God to maintain peace

Social Status
- Respect received increased
- Said to have earned a “badge of immortality”
- Seen as higher in the social structure
- Seen with honor and bravery

Question 22

What were the origins of the Black Death?

Answer 22

• Originated in China, spread to Europe and Italy via trade routes such as the Silk Road
• Spread of plague increased due to many contaminated rats and fleas in Europe
• Started with fleas, to rats, to ships, to people

Question 23

What was the spread route of the Black Death?

Answer 23

The Black Death spread across the silk road as when people traded, they interacted with each other and ultimately infected each other.

Question 24

What was the impacts of the Black Death?

(HINT: 4 social effects and 6 economic effects)

Answer 24

Social:
- People doubted church and pope/clergy authority
- Cultural elements were impacted (death is common focal point in art + literature created during this time period)
- People abandoned friends and family to journey to countryside and save themselves
- Jews and poor people were targeted. Believed to be the source of the Black Plague

Economic:
- Trade was disrupted
- A lot more gravediggers, civic medical assistants, and police
- Only a small number of workers healthy enough to work, labor prices increased significantly
- Construction projects stopped or were postponed (not enough people able to complete the labor)
-Property rents dropped significantly (landlords had abandoned houses with no one to sell them to)
-Survivors experienced economic prosperity. They were making more and paying less.

Question 25

Read clauses from the Magna Carta and identify why the barons decided to include the clause. Provide an explanation in your own words.

Answer 25

REVIEW DOCUMENT (MUST)

Question 26

Who was Martin Luther and how did he impact the Reformation of the Church?

Answer 26

Martin Luther was a monk who doubted the churches authority and openly attacked them. He revealed that the indulgences that Popes sold were for the gain of wealth rather than an actual way to rid your soul of sins and enter heaven. People began to doubt the church as well, and as new religious ideas spread, new religions were also created. This brought down the Church and encouraged religions such as Lutheranism (created by Martin Luther).

Question 27

Indulgences

Answer 27

A pardon, or forgiveness, of a sin