Unit 5: The Middle Ages

Question 1

What is NOT a reason the Roman Empire fell?

Answer 1

A FAKE reason is the brutal stabbing and ambush of Julius Caesar.

Question 2

True or False? During Crusade times, the Catholic church had significant influence.

Answer 2

True.

Question 3

What is a FALSE fact about the First Crusade?

Answer 3

A FALSE fact is that Emperor Alexios of the Byzantine Empire needed support to fend off the Fatimid Caliphate.

Question 4

Finish this sentence:
Leading up to the ____ Crusade, ____ had control of Jerusalem.

Answer 4

First; Muslims.

Question 5

What is the name of the Holy City?

Answer 5

Jerusalem.

Question 6

What made China an essential part of the Silk Road?

Answer 6

The Chinese had the secret to silk production; silk worms.

Question 7

True or False? During the Mongol reign, much of the Silk Road trade network was protected by a single entity, which was helpful for trade and commerce. A term to describe this peace is Pax Mongolica.

Answer 7

True.

Question 8

Which animal was NOT commonly used along the Silk Road trade routes?

Answer 8

Camels.

Question 9

What is something NOT TRUE about the Silk Road network?

Answer 9

A FALSE fact about the Silk Road is that it reached obscure places like Japan and Australia.

Question 10

Which plague outbreak was deadlier?

Answer 10

The 14th century plage outbreak.

Question 11

The most famous/deadly plague outbreak in history is called the “Black Death” because one of the symptoms of the disease is the blackening of the skin around swellings called what?

Answer 11

Buboes.

Question 12

True or False? The deadliest plague outbreak in human history, the Black Death, killed at least one quarter, and up to one half or more of the entire population of both Europe and the Middle East.

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

No clue how to word this one either, just remember all of these were thought to be potential causes of the Black Death in the 14th century.

Answer 13

a. Those who come in contact with plague mostly die, while those who do not come into contact survive. In other words, it is a contagious disease and healthy people get it from sick people.
b. Air can be infected artificially and placed in a glass bottle. When this preparation is well fermented, whoever wishes to produce this evil will wait for a strong and steady wind. Then he will walk against the wind opposite the city or town he wishes to infect.
c. The constellations exerted their power against the sea and waters of the ocean, in which the water was then so corrupted that fish died. From the water came vapor that spread though the air in many places on Earth.

Question 14

True or False? Both Pistoia, Italy, and Philadelphia, USA had public health measures to stop the spread of plague. Though they both had the same goal in mind, the Philadelphia explanation (550 years later) utilized more modern science and reasoning.

Answer 14

True.

Question 15

Which two organisms were most responsible for the spread of the plague?

Answer 15

Fleas and rats.

Question 16

True or False? The plague still exists today, but is now treatable using antibiotics.

Answer 16

True.

Question 17

What is the name of the original great Mongolian leader who would unite the Mongols and create this great empire?

Answer 17

Genghis Khan.

Question 18

True or False? At its height, the Mongols ruled the largest contiguous empire in world history.

Answer 18

True.

Question 19

Which animal was absolutely vital to Mongol success? They would ride these beasts, and actually preferred the females so Mongols could drink their milk.

Answer 19

…the poor, poor horses.

Question 20

True or False? Mongols relied on speed and endurance: they would often retreat so their enemies would chase them, and then counter-attack when the enemies were weakened and tired.

Answer 20

True.

Question 21

True or False? Mongols, though ruthless and fierce warriors, understood the value of trade and organization within their empire.

Answer 21

True.

Question 22

True or False? Marco Polo was a famous Italian traveler; over the course of many years he traveled thousands of miles all across the Mongol Empire.

Answer 22

True.

Question 23

Marco Polo, while imprisoned in Italy after all his travels through Asia wrote a book about his experiences. What was the name of his book?

Answer 23

Il Milione.

Question 24

What is a FALSE fact about the Mongols?

Answer 24

A FALSE fact is that the Mongols were not careful to protect commerce and transportation along Silk Road trade networks.

Question 25

In the context of World History, what is a Crusade?

Answer 25

A European expedition to recover the Holy Land from Muslims in Medieval times.

Question 26

Finish the sentence: Pope ____ gave an electric speech to fellow Catholics in France, calling arms in a manner which would result in the ____ Crusade.

Answer 26

Urban II; First.

Question 27

True or False? The First Crusade was successful in that Christians gained control over Jerusalem.

Answer 27

True.

Question 28

What is a FALSE fact about the siege at Antioch?

Answer 28

A FALSE fact is that Crusaders found an axe thought to be the same one that stabbed Jesus leading up to his death.

Question 29

What was the name of the Crusade started by civilians, and who was it led by?

Answer 29

The People’s Crusade, and it was led by Peter the Hermit.

Question 30

Also don’t know how to phrase this question, so just have some facts about the People’s Crusade.

Answer 30

a. Emperor Alexius quickly ferried them into Anatolia/Asia Minor.
b. On their way to the Middle East, they persecuted and even massacred Jews in Europe.
c. Many of them were poor and had minimal combat experience.
d. They followed the Danube river through Europe into Hungary and eventually into the Byzantine Empire, but were poorly supplied and disorganized.
e. They were ambushed and slaughtered by a Turkish force almost immediately upon entering enemy territory.
f. They pillaged and looted cities and settlements within the Byzantine Empire.

Question 31

Which plague outbreak spread farther?

Answer 31

The 19th century outbreak.

Question 32

The massive amounts of death caused by the Black Plague was caused by a ____ infection?

Answer 32

Bacterial.

Question 33

True or False? The Black Death began in Asia and spread rapidly, finally slowing down once it reached Europe.

Answer 33

False. HAH, you thought it was true didn’t you?

Question 34

Match the following treatments to the right century outbreak.. so much matching, I apologize.
1) Antibiotics
2) Spices
3) Herbs
4) Vinegar
5) Vaccines
6) Incense
7) Smoke
8) Potions
9) Leeches

Answer 34

1) 19th Century
2) 14th Century
3) 14th Century
4) 14th Century
5) 19th Century
6) 14th Century
7) 14th Century
8) 14th Century
9) 14th Century

Question 35

True or False? The Black Death is among the most deadly disease outbreaks in human history, both in terms of total deaths and in terms of death percentage of global/regional populations.

Answer 35

True.

Question 36

Ghenghis/Chinggis Khan was born named what?

Answer 36

Temujin.

Question 37

What was the primary form of Mongolian economy in its pre-empire days?

Answer 37

Flocks of animals.

Question 38

What is one thing Mongolians are NOT known for?

Answer 38

Sprawling, walled cities.

Question 39

Despite their reputation for brutality especially in regards to warfare, there was above average peace, stability, and trade within its empire during what’s known as what?

Answer 39

The Pax Magnolica.

Question 40

True or False? According to a relatively recent study by geneticists, 1 of approximately 200 people in the world today are directly related to Ghengis Khan.

Answer 40

True.

Question 41

True or False? The Mongols revitalized the Silk Road trade network, which led to technology, ideas, religion, and disease being spread long distances from east to west and west to east.

Answer 41

True.

Question 42

Which of the following items is least likely to be traded along the Silk Road trade network?
a. Bitcoin
b. Spices
c. Horses
d. Porcelain
e. Roman glassware
f. Gunpowder
g. Disease
h. Chinese silk
i. Religion
j. Paper
k. Slaves
l. Food

Answer 42

Oh I wonder what it could beee.. it’s A, obviously. Take it up a notch Mr. Alesinni. Do better.

Question 43

True or False? Marco Polo traveled with his family from Italy to China during the reign of the Mongols, ultimately retelling his stories in a book entitled “Il Milione.”

Answer 43

True.

Question 44

True or False? According to our handouts, there are varied descriptions of the Mongols, some positive and some negative (obviously based on different peoples’ biases).

Answer 44

True.

Question 45

What is a FALSE fact about Mongolian technology?

Answer 45

A FALSE fact is that Mongols were very heavily armored; similar to medieval knights they were well-protected but less mobile due to the weight.