Medieval Towns/Black Death Quiz

Question 1

Royal Charter

Answer 1

A document given by the King to a Medieval town or city that wished to govern itself and be independent of its feudal lord.

Question 2

Guild

Answer 2

An organization of people in the same craft or trade (such as stonemasons, blacksmiths, tailors, etc.).

Question 3

Apprentice

Answer 3

a person who works for a master in a trade or craft in return for training

Question 4

Bloodletting

Answer 4

The practice of draining blood in an attempt to “cure” a disease or illness

Question 5

Surplus

Answer 5

When there is more than what is needed or required.

Question 6

Black Death

Answer 6

A deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351.

Question 7

Bubonic Plague

Answer 7

Disease that caused the Black Death that killed 1/3 to 2/3 of people in Europe.

Question 8

Cause of the Black Death in Europe

Answer 8

Trade networks running from China to the Middle East and then to Europe allowed the Black Death to spread from Asia to Europe.

Question 9

Short term impacts of the Black Death

Answer 9

Social/Cultural: 1/3 to 2/3 of the European population dies, life expectancy dropped from 35 to 16 years of age, people stopped certain traditions/practices like having funerals for the dead.

Political: Peasants began to have more power and influence to make demands, nobles changed the way they ran manors (less farmland, fewer people, etc.)

Economic: Certain work (like construction) complete stopped, many guilds/businesses closed, trade decreased temporarily, and cities became less populated temporarily.

Question 10

Long term impacts of the Black Death

Answer 10

Social/Cultural: An increasing number of peasants are able to move up in society or into the merchant class, faith in the Catholic Church decreases, urban (city) populations recovered quickly while rural (populations) recovered much more slowly.

Political: Kings and nobles lost the ability to easily control peasants, the Catholic Church lost a degree of influence it had over the European population.

Economic: Worker shortage due to the decrease in population, raise in wages and benefits for peasants, money begins replacing pledges of loyalty as the main way in which people obtained the things they needed.