Medeival Europe

Question 1

Constantinople

Answer 1

Byzantine capital NW of Asia minor. Chosen because E Med. was wealthy & productive. Strategic for military access to sea. Watched over Sassanid and Germanic empires. Lavish due to empire’s prosperity. Had libraries, churches, public buildings, settings for social gatherings and relaxation, and theatres.

Question 2

Caesaropapism

Answer 2

Policy by which rulers participated in both Christian and secular affairs. Emperors exalted as all-powerful rulers.

Question 3

Byzantine government

Answer 3

Imperial bureaucracy

Question 4

Justinian

Answer 4

Most important Byzantine ruler; born into peasant family; met Theodora; found place in bureaucracy and mastered finance. Rebuilt Constantinople and built the Hagia Sophia church.

Question 5

Justinian’s Code

Answer 5

Tremendous legal reform after law became complex and conflicting. Created The Body of the Civil Law, which was a systematic review; influenced civil law codes in Europe.

Question 6

Byzantine conquests

Answer 6

Justinian sought to reclaim western Rome from Frankish, so conquered Italy, NW Africa, and Spain. Unable to consolidate rule due to lack of resources.

Question 7

Muslim conquests

Answer 7

Arab warriors overran large parts of Byzantium. Syria, NA, Palestine, Egypt. The Byzantines resisted with advanced weaponry; “Greek fire” was a harsh incendiary weapon.

Question 8

Theme System

Answer 8

Political reform after Muslim conquests. Imperial provinces under admin. of governors resp. for order & defense. Recruited armies of peasants in exchange for land; led to economic prosperity. Byzantium became E. Med. power again.

Question 9

The Franks

Answer 9

Most influential Germanic people

Question 10

Carolingian Dynasty

Answer 10

Main Frankish dynasty founded by Charles Martel

Question 11

Battle of Tours

Answer 11

Fierce battle against Muslim army fought by Charles Martel

Question 12

What did the Frankish/Carolingians do?

Answer 12

Weakened Roman institutions; gained pol. and mil. power.; adopted Christianity; applied force/killing; took land/built states.

Question 13

Charlemagne

Answer 13

Greatest Carolingian ruler, grandson of Charles Martel; conquered all of C Europe.

Question 14

Describe Charlemagne’s administration

Answer 14

Diplomatic relations w/ Byzantine and Abbasid empires; relied on deputies (counts) and missi dominicci to rule locally; capital at Aachen

Question 15

How did Western rulers gain power?

Answer 15

1. Force- Clovis killed and took things
2. Faith- Allied w/ infallible pope.
3. Fortification- Offered protection to people

Question 16

What did Charlemagne’s coronation do?

Answer 16

Strained relations with Byzantium because it threatened their dignity. Proved secular power of pope.

Question 17

Vikings

Answer 17

Skilled scandinavian seafarers; moved south after overpopulation; plundered monasteries/settlements; contributed to fall of Carolingian empire.

Question 18

What impact did the Vikings have on European society?

Answer 18

1. Cent. gov’t collapse
2. Reg. rulers gained influence b/c of fortification & defense
3. Rulers paid vikings to stop raiding- this weakened economy.

Question 19

Byzantine economy

Answer 19

1. Agricultural surpluses: theme system
2. Trade: Manufactured goods and silk; Constantinople was heart/clearinghouse of trade; levied taxes.
3. Goods: Porcelain from China, rugs from Persia, spices from India.
4. Bezant became standard currency.

Question 20

Western economy

Answer 20

1. Crippled due to invasions and political disunity.
2. Some agriculture due to innovations- heavy plow, fish ponds.
3. Trade in local markets & Med. basin linked Europe w/ larger world.
4. Trade w/ norse mariners on viking routes- relied on them for silver.
5. Manors were the basic economic unit. Self sufficient communities.

Question 21

Fall of Carolingian dynasty

Answer 21

1. Divided after Charlemagne’s death between sons

2. Viking invasions

Question 22

Pope

Answer 22

Western christian ruler; claimed spiritual authority; organized defense against Germanic Lombards.

Question 23

Patriarch

Answer 23

Byzantine christian ruler; treated church as state dept.

Question 24

Differences between East and West churches

Answer 24

1. Different theological concepts
2. Disagreed over religious/doctrinal/church practices. Ex: Disagreed over holy trinity & iconoclasm.
3. Separated into Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic; fought for spiritual authority.

Question 25

Most influential pope

Answer 25

Pope Gregory I

Question 26

Monasteries

Answer 26

Centers of economic and cultural exchange; monks preserved writing; had ascetic lifestyle.

Question 27

Gothic invaders

Answer 27

Ostrogoths and Visigoths who sacked Rome and established chaos.

Question 28

Medieval manor

Answer 28

Main economic unit for W. Europe. Lords employed peasants for agriculture and labor.

Question 29

Schism

Answer 29

Split of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches

Question 30

Iconoclasm

Answer 30

Attacks on idols by eastern church. Belief that idols should not be venerated