The Great Questions from History

– Feudalism & the High Middle Ages –

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  1.  What did the church say would happen in the year 1000AD?
  2.  Why did they say that?
  3.  Were people healthier in the year 1000AD than people in 14th century Europe? Why / why not?
  4.  How did people’s thinking change with regards the church after 1000AD?
  5.  What was Feudalism?
  6.  What was an oath of allegiance?
  7.  Who took an oath of allegiance?
  8.  What was a vassal?
  9.  What was the name given to a Lord’s estate? F______
  10.  Did the peasants have to pay the lord rent?
  11.  What was the feudal burden?
  12. There was slavery for the peasant at this time in Europe. What name was used for an enslaved peasant? S_______
  13.  What was the name of the tax (10% of their produce) that peasants had to pay the church?
  14.  What would the King provide a Lord for taking an oath of allegiance to him?
  15.  What did a vassal promise to the King?
  16.  How many days would a peasant work on a Lord’s demesne? Why would he do this?
  17.  Who was the Carolingian empire named after?
  18.  When do historians say the Dark Ages came to an end?
  19. What year and day was Charlemagne crowned emperor?
  20.  What title was given to Emperor Charlemagne?
  21. Why is Charlemagne’s reign so important in European history?
  22. What three things did the French philosopher Voltaire saw we know about the Holy Roman Empire?
  23.  What was the name of the border territories of the Carolingian empire called that were used for protection? Used as buffer states and known as: M_______
  24.  What was the name of the Carolingian territory in Spain? H__________ M____________
  25.  What happened to the Carolingian empire when Charlemagne died?
  26.  What three groups of people were responsible for the second wave of invasions? V_________, M___________, M____________
  27.  What name referred to all those that worked for the church? C___________
  28.  What name was given to the monks & nuns? The R___________ C___________
  29.  What name was given to the priests & bishops? The S___________ C_________
  30.  What was the ceremony of homage in feudal society?
  31.  Explain how a boy would become a knight
  32. What does it mean to leave a field fallow?
  33. Why would a peasant leave a field fallow?
  34. What did it mean if you were excommunicated?
  35.  What were the Crusades?
  36. Who called for the first Crusade in 1095?
  37. Why was the first Crusade started? (two reasons)
  38. Which religious order lived in a monastery?
  39. Which religious order lived in a convent?
  40.  What were military orders?
  41. Which is the world’s oldest pilgrimage route?
  42.  What did the Crusaders do when they took the city of Jerusalem in 1099?
  43.  What happened in the year 1000AD?
  44.  Why were people confident about the future after 1000AD?
  45.  Why did the population grow substantially during the 12th century?
  46.  Name at least three agricultural innovations that contributed to the marked increase in population at this time?
  47.  Name at least two famous merchant associations that controlled trade in Europe at this time?
  48.  What was invented in Italy at this time?
  49.  Name the two innovations in banking at this time?

C_______ & B_____ of E___________

  1.  What was the name given to the elite and wealthy merchants and artisans? The B_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e
  2.  Were cities healthy places to live? Why / why not?
  3.  What were guilds?
  4.  What was the 12th century Renaissance?
  5.  Which were the first universities of Europe? (Name three)
  6.  What were the four faculties of a medieval university?

L______ A_____, M____________. L________ & T_______

  1.  What buildings were constructed at this time during the boom in architecture?
  2.  Who was Thomas Aquinas?
  3.  What type of literature was developed at this time?
  4.  Although Latin was still important, there was a development in which languages at this time?
  5.  Did the monarchies lose or increase their power?
  6.  What type of government was being established throughout Western Europe at this time? P______________
  7.  Why was the 14th century considered the worst century to have been lived in European history?
  8.  Which war, lasting 116 years, was fought during the 14th century?
  9.  When did the Black Death sweep across Europe?
  10.  How many people died in Europe as a result of the Black Death?
  11.  What was another name for the Black Death? The P_____
  12.  There were several rebellions during this period. Who rebelled in England and France?
  13.  What animal was responsible for the spread of the Black Death throughout Europe?
  14.  In which European country did the Black Death begin?
  15.  Explain how the Black Death began, arrived in Europe and then spread
  16.  Why was the death toll due to the plague so high? (two reasons)
  17.  There were successive waves of the plague until which year in the 15th century?
  18.  What problems did the climate change of the early 14th century provoke in Europe?