Social Science - Chapter 4&5

Changes in military technology led to what?

-Kings no longer relied on nobles to supply knights for the army. -this made the nobles' knights and castles less useful.

What were two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence to accused criminals in the Early Middle Ages?

-People accused of crimes were held in dirty, crowned jails -Trial by ordeal or combat was often used to establish a person's guilt or innocence.

What two ways did the political changes contribute to the decline of feudalism?

-Some of the changes strengthend royal authority at the expense of the nobles -Others weakened feudalism by eventually shifting some power to the common people.

Henry II's legal reforms did what?

-Strengthened the power of royal courts at the expense of feudal lords.

How did John make powerful enemies?

-by losing most of the lands the English had controlled in France -by taxing his barons heavily -igoring his barons traditional rights, arresting opponents at will.

What was the difference between a mystery play and a miracle play?

A mystery play is where guilds acted out Bible stories and miracle plays are plays that dramatized the lives of Saints.

About how many Europeans died of the plague?

About 24 million people

What was difficult about growing up in a medieval town?

About half of the children died before they became adults and those who survived began preparing for their adult roles at the age of seven. Some boys and few girls attend school, and few could read and write.

What were some leisure activities enjoyed by adults in medieval Europe?

Adults liked games, such as chess, checkers, backgammon, playing cards, going dancing, or other social activities.

What happened in 1415?

After a long truce, English King Henry IV again invaded France. This time, the English met with stronger resistance.

Magna Carta

Agreement between the nobles and the monarch. -affirmed that monarchs should rule with the advice of the governed.

What happened to Jews in England (1290) and in France (1306&1394)?

All Jews were forced to leave the country.

In 1430, what did the English accuse Joan of?

Being a witch and a heretic and to burn her at the stake.

How did the Hundred Years' War contribute to the decline of feudalism?

By helping shift power from feudal lords to monarchs and to common people.

How was a town able to become independent of a feudal lord?

By purchasing a charter. A charter granted them the right to govern themselves, make laws, and raise taxes.

What were some popular children's games in medieval Europe?

Children played with dolls and toys. They also rolled hoops, and played games like badminton, lawn bowling, and blind man's bluff.

Between 1337 and 1453, what happened?

England and France fought in a series of battles known as the Hundred Years' War. This long conflict contributed to the erosion of feudalism in England and France.

What contributed to the growth of towns in medieval Europe?

Farmers were clearing forests and adopting better farming methods. Also, the revival of trade did too. Within Europe, merchants often traveled by rivers, and many towns grew up near these waterways.

What were some common symptoms of the Black Death?

Fever , vomiting, fierce coughing and sneezing fits, and egg-sized swelling, or bumps called buboes.

What were some ways in which criminals were punished in medieval Europe?

For lesser crimes, people were fined or put in the stocks. People found guilty of crimes could be hanged or burned at the stake.

How did the Hundred Years' War start?

France and England were fighting for control over lands in France. Since English monarchs had long claimed lands in France, England wanted all of the land, rather than just some of it.

When did the bubonic plague first strike Europe?

From 1346 to 1351

What were guilds and why were they established?

Guilds were an organization of people in the same craft or trade. Guilds provided help and protection for the people doing a certain kind of work, and they maintained high standards.

What did King John agree to do?

Observe common law and the traditional rights of the nobles and the church. -he promised to consult the nobles and the Church archbishops and bishops before imposing special taxes. -also agreed that "no free man" could be jailed except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land. (Developed habeas corpus)

How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?

Medieval girls usually married at the age of 15 and then soon raised children of their own. Also, their education was usually at home, where they learned cooking, cloth making, and other skills necessary to care for a home and family.

What did Joan of Arc do for the French during the Hundred Years' War?

She led a French army to victory in 1429 in the Battle of Orléans.

Who was Joan of Arc?

She was a 17-year-old girl who claimed that she heard the voices of saints urging her to save France, which inspired the French.

The new feeling of nationalism also did what?

Shifted power away from lords. -the war created a new sense of national unity and patriotism on both sides.

The deaths of so many people did what?

Speeded changes in Europe's economic and social structure, which contributed to the decline of feudalism.

John quarreled with who?

The Catholic Church and he collected large amounts of money from its properties.

Why were the English able to defeat the French in the early battles, such as the one at Crécy?

The English army was made up of lightly armored knights, foot soldiers, and archers armed with long bows. The long bows flew farther, faster, and more accurately and could pierce the armor of the time.

What changes did Magna Carta bring about in English government?

The Magna Carta brought the change of having King John agree to observe common law and the traditional rights of the nobles and the Church. It also helped develop habeas corpus.

What changes to the court system helped protect individual rights in the early 1100s in England?

The decisions of royal judges contributed to a growing body of common law.

Speeded changes in Europe's economic and social structure contributed to what?

The decline of feudalism.

The deaths of so many people and trade and commerce slowed to almost a halt during the plague years meant what?

The economy was needed to be rebuilt.

Trade and commerce slowed to a halt during the plague years which meant what?

The economy was needed to be rebuilt. -there was a shift in power from nobles to common people since there was a desperate need for workers.

How did merchants become the most powerful and wealthy citizens of town?

The growth of trade and commerce. They ran size able businesses and looked for trading opportunities far from home. Merchant guilds came to dominate the business life of towns and cities.

Why did kings no longer rely as much on nobles to supply knights for the army?

Monarchs on both sides had collected taxes and raised large professional armies.

What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?

The measles, cholera, small pox, and scarlet fever. The most feared disease, though, was the bubonic plague, known as the Black Death.

Why were knights no longer needed for their lords' army?

The monarchs on both sides had raised large professional armies. Also, the longbow proved to be an effective weapon against the knights.

Describe the spread of the bubonic plague in the 14th century.

The plague originates in Central Asia, then it travels along trade route to the Black Sea. It is then carried on a ship to Italy and it spreads north and west throughout the continent of Europe and to England.

Why was the plague called the "Black Death"?

The term "Black Death" probably came from these black-and-blue swellings that appeared on the skin of victims.

What were some common practices or treatments used by medieval doctors?

The use of herbs, they sometimes consulted the position of the planets, they relied on magic charms, and they also used the technique to "bleed" people. This method worked by opening a vein or applying leeches to the skin to suck out blood, but this method usually weakened patients further.

Describe the typical home in a medieval town.

The were built of wood, narrow, they could be up to four stories high and were usually cold, dark and wet.

What did the Magna Carta do to the nobles?

This protected the rights and privileges of nobles and nobles were now able to be consulted before the king imposes special taxes.

The new feeling of nationalism led to what?

This shifted power away from the lords.

How did the Parliament weaken feudalism?

This was because it shifted more power towards the common people.

What changes did Henry II make to the English legal system?

He created a system where people could no longer be jailed or executed for no legal reason.

In 1295, what did Edward I do?

He took a major step in including more people in the government by calling together a governing body called the Model Parliament.

How did Henry II's changes affect feudalism?

His effort to strengthen royal authority led to a serious conflict with the Catholic Church.

What did Edward I's Model Parliament give to the common people?

It gave the common people a voice in the government.

What did the political events such as the creation of the Magna Carta, Henry II's legal reforms, and Edward I's Model Parliament lead to?

It strengthened the royal authority at the expense of nobles, others weakened feudalism by shifting some power to the common people, and some reformed the basis for the development of modern democratic institutions.

What was the Model Parliament, and why was it created?

It was a governing body created by King Edward I of England that included some commoners, Church officials, and nobles. It was created to include more people in the government.

What opportunity was open to Jews?

They could become bankers and moneylenders. Jewish bankers and moneyleaders performed an essential service for the economy.

How were Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe?

They were not allowed to own land, their lord sometimes took their belongings at will, and they could also be the targets of violence.

Where were towns in medieval Europe often located and why?

They were often located in scattered communities in the countryside in the Early Middle Ages because there was better agriculture and they were often by a river.

Henry's effort to strengthen royal authority did what?

This led to a serious conflict with the Catholic Church.

What did the changes in military technology do?

This made the nobles' knights and castles less useful.

How was the plague spread?

This was caused by the dirty conditions in which people lived in and fleas that feed on the blood of infected rodents cause bacteria which create disease. Many people also went many months without a change of clothing or a bath, and rats covered with fleas, often roamed the floors of homes looking for food. No one knew where the disease came from, or how it spread, though.

How did trade change from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the High Middle Ages?

Trade during the Middle Ages was in luxury goods, which only the wealthy could afford. Then by the High Middle Ages, more local people were buying and selling more kinds of products (clothing, goods, and household items)

What are some different conditions in medieval towns that led to the spread of disease?

Unhealthy living conditions, rats and fleas, they usally only bathed once a week, they didn't have fresh rooms, and there were crowded rooms.

What happened when Philip VI of France declared that the French fiefs of England's King Edward III were part of Philip's own realm?

War broke out in France