Name/Historical Significance Flashcards
1
Q
- Became King of the Franks
- Had a goal to unite all Germanic people into one Kingdom
- Wanted to convert them into Christianity
- Strong military leader; spent much of his time in warfare in hopes of accomplishing his goal
- Was crowned emperor of the Romans
- Encouraged the rise of a Renaissance; cultural and intellectual revival of Europe
- When he died, his empire contained much of Western Europe
- Christianity survived within the empire
- Known as the “father of Europe”
A
Charlemagne
2
Q
- Made good laws
- Believed education was important
- Translated books from Latin to English
- To protect his kingdom from Viking attacks, he built forts and walled towns; built warships to guard from riders
- Organized his army into two parts; half the men were at home on their farms, the rest were ready to fight the Vikings
- Was one of the only kings in British history to be called ‘Great’
- Famous for his victories against the Vikings
A
Alfred the Great
3
Q
- Most significant philosopher in the Islamic tradition and pre-modern era
- Muslim scientist who influenced the history of medicine in Iran and the world
- Most important contribution to medical science was his book The Canon of Medicine
- Gained his status as a physician
- Wrote another book and split it into 4 parts: logic, natural sciences, mathematics, physics
- Developed his own version of logic
- Proposed that Venus was closer to the Sun than the Earth
- Invented an instrument for observing the coordinates of a star
A
Avicenna
4
Q
- English philosopher
- Studied mathematics, astronomy, optics alchemy, and languages
- First European to describe the process of making gunpowder
- Proposed flying machines and motorized ships and carriages
- Wide range of interests:
- Investigated optics and the refraction of light through lenses
- Developed spectacles
- Medieval thinker
- Discovered the importance of empirical testing when the results he obtained were different that Aristotle’s prediction
A
Roger Bacon
5
Q
- Philosopher that was held as one of the greatest thinkers and scientists in history
- Combined Artistolian philosophy with Islamic thought
- Argues that there are two forms of truth: religious and philosophical form
- Conducted astronomical observations in Morocco
- Discovered an unobserved star
- Believed that the moon was obscured, some parts thicker than others
- Made remarkable contributions in medicine
- Threw light on diagnoses, cure and prevention of diseases
- Believed that true happiness can be achieved through mental and psychological health
A
Ibn Rushd
6
Q
- Scholastic philosopher
- Combined principles of faith with reason
- Studies Aristotle’s work- became a launching point for his own exploration of philosophy
- The Catholic church consistently reaffirmed the importance of his work
- Was not liked by his peers and was made fun of his slow thinking
- Exerted a great influence on Christian theology especially the Roman Catholic Church
- His work explains the five proofs of the existence of God
A
Saint Thomas Aquinas
7
Q
- Merchant who journeyed across Asia
- First set out at age 17 with his father and uncle
- Travelled along the Silk Road
- Upon reaching China, he entered the court of the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan
- Was sent on trips to help administer the kingdom
- Secured holy oil from Jerusalem
- Immersed himself in Chinese culture, learning the language and customs
- Khan provided him with a ‘paiza’
- Was a passport making him and honored guest of the emperor
- Was allowed to travel freely throughout Asia
- Best known for his accomplishments as a world traveler and expanding trade routes in Asia
A
Marco Polo
8
Q
- Spanish King of Castile and Leon
- Was called a Renaissance man before the Renaissance
- As a youth, he was tutored in the arts of war and governance
- As a warrior prince, he led fierce Spanish armies
- His most famous work had enormous influence on the future of Spanish law and overseas possessions
- His other works contained a wealth of descriptive detail about medieval life
- Wrote love poems
- He was one of the greatest royal patrons of learning of the Middle Ages.
A
Alfonso X
9
Q
- Lived a luxurious and wealthy life, his father was a merchant
- Began his life as a confirmed sinner
- Left school and became known as a rebellious teenager
- Instead of planning for a future as a merchant, he daydreamed about becoming a knight
- Himself and the men of Assisi came under heavy attack
- Unskilled with no combat experience, he was captured by enemy soldiers
- After the war, he found a leper as he was riding a horse
- Kissed the leper and all appeal to his past lifestyle was gone
- In his early 20s, he began turning his focus toward God and became devoted to Christianity
A
Saint Francis
10
Q
- Mystic and activist who had great influence on Italian culture
- Declared a doctor of the church
- Protested the persecution under Roman Emperor Maxentius
- Maxentius ordered his people to debate with her
- Her words were so powerful that even his pagans converted to Christianity
- She professed that she lost her virginity to Jesus Christ, her spouse
- The spiked wheel by which she was to be killed broke when she touched it, then was beheaded.
A
Saint Catherine
11
Q
- Peasant girl living in medieval France
- Believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in Orleans during a war with England
- King Charles gave this 17-year-old armor and a horse and allowed her to accompany the army to Orleans
- During the battle, she was thrown off her horse and left outside the town’s gates
- Was taken captive by the Burgundians and held for several months
- English saw her as a valuable propaganda prize
- She was charged with 70 counts and held in military prison
- Threatened with rape and torture, with no record of evidence
A
Joan of Arc
12
Q
- Known as The Conqueror
- Famous sultans of Ottoman Empire
- Was a genius statesman and military leader
- Motivated for taking the city of Constantinople by prophet Hz. Muhammed’s words
- Overthrew the Byzantine Empire by conquering Constantinople
- Took the name “conqueror” after the conquest of Istanbul
- After, he marched and captured cities of Greece, one after another
- Rules the Ottoman Empire for 30 years
- Very strict statesman and brave soldier
- After this Sultan’s death, the Ottoman Empire remained culturally and geographically strong
A
Mehmed II
13
Q
- When her father died, her brother Henry was declared King
- She was declared her brother’s successor but withdrew his support after marrying Ferdinand II
- She became the Queen of Castile
- Her husband Ferdinand was already King of Aragon
- Together they ruled and unified Spain
- They organized the Spanish Inquisition
- Had the goal of ridding Spain of Jews and Muslims and any non-believers of Catholicism
- Those that did not convert were exiled from Spain
- She was an advocate for education
A
Queen Isabella (Isabella I)
14
Q
- An Italian explorer who stumbled upon the Americas
- Determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but never did
- His journeys marked the beginning of centuries of exploration
- Wanted to sail west across the Atlantic instead of around the massive African continent
- His logic was sound, but his math was faulty
- Wanted fame and fortune
- Had a contract with Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand
- Promised that he could keep 10 percent of the riches he found
- Along with a noble title and governorship of land
- Inspired the Columbian Exchange which transferred people, animals, food, diseases
A
Christopher Columbus
15
Q
- Highly successful Portuguese sailor and explorer
- Influential during the Age of Exploration
- His initial voyage to India was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route
- His discovery of the sea route to India was significant
- Opened the way for an age of global imperialism
- Allowed the Portuguese to establish a long-lasting colonial empire in Asia
- His discovery was monumental in the history of navigation
- Also instrumental in establishing Portugal as a major colonial empire
A
Vasca da Gama
