Unit 08 Test Flashcards
Black Death
A deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351.
Bubonic Plague
Disease that caused the Black Death that killed 1/3 to 2/3 of people in Europe.
Pandemic
widespread occurrence of a disease over a whole country or the world
Epidemic
a widespread occurrence of a disease
Absolutism
A political system in which a ruler (such as a King) holds total power
Magna Carta
A charter (document) created by English Nobles and signed by King John which placed limits on the English government and established rights for English Nobles.
Rights
Things that citizens can do which the government cannot take away from them.
Limits
Restrictions on what the government is able to do.
Hundred Years’ War
A series of wars between Britain and France that lasted for 116 years, from 1337-1453 CE.
Longbow
Six foot long bow that could rapidly fire arrows with enough force to pierce the armor of Knights
Battle of Agincourt
A battle in which an outnumbered English dominated the French due to the English’s use of the longbow. Helped showcase that knights were no longer the key to winning battles.
Nationalism
A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one’s country, kingdom, or nation.
Joan of Arc
French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king
Social/Cultural Impacts of the Black Death
- An increasing number of peasants are able to move up in society or into the merchant class.
- Faith in the Catholic Church decreases
- Growth in city populations
Political Impacts of the Black Death
- Kings and nobles lost the ability to control peasants easily.
- The Catholic Church loses power and influence as people begin to lose faith in the church’s ability to protect them.
Economic Impacts of the Black Death
- Wages went up as a result of the worker shortage.
- More peasants and merchants are able to start businesses or enter a trade.
- Money replaced pledges of loyalty as the main way in which people obtained the things they needed.
Magna Carta and the relationship between the King, the people, and the law in England
- English Kings had their power limited and were no longer above the law.
- English citizens (nobles) now had rights which had to be protected and were able to have some say in government, such as when it came to taxes.
Technological Impacts of the Hundred Years’ War
The invention of the longbow and cannons made it so that knights were no longer useful in the fighting of wars, eliminating them as a social class. Peasants would be used as soldiers and paid to fight instead.
The impact of Nationalism after the Hundred Years’ War
People were more loyal to their country (and their country’s leader) than they were to anyone else. This meant that the average person felt a greater connection and sense of loyalty to a King rather than a feudal lord or manor.
