The Growth of Medieval Towns & Decline of Feudalism Test

why was growing up in medieval towns difficult?

-about half of all children died before coming adults -prepared for adulthood at age 7

what are some examples of craft guilds in medieval Europe?

-bakers -shoemakers -blacksmiths

The Middle Ages is also called....

The Age of Faith

Which group of people became wealthy and powerful in medieval towns and why?

The merchants because they traveled to get goods and could charge as much as people were willing to pay.

truce

an agreed-upon halt in fighting

what were merchant fairs like?

crowded, busy, fun, entertaining, festive, and noisy

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

girls not married very young and their only education was at home

how did Henry II improve English law?

he insisted that a jury formally accuse a person of a serious crime

domain

the land controlled by a ruler or lord

What was one economic change of the Black Death?

the population declined

what rights did a charter give townspeople?

the right to govern themselves with a mayor or town council

how did the outbreak of plague in the 14th century contribute to the decline of feudalism in Europe?

the workers who remained could demand higher play and more rights

what contributed to the growth of medieval towns in medieval Europe?

trade expanded, peasants were fleeing from their manor so the feudal system broke down

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

trial by ordeal and trial by combat

how did the Hundred Year War start?

when the King of France challenged England's claim to French fiefs

describe one important consequence of the Magna Carta

One important consequence of the Magna Carta was that it established the idea of rights and liberties that even that king could not violate.

how did a town become independent?

Many towns became independent by purchasing a royal charter. The charter granted them the right to govern themselves, make laws, and raise taxes. Free towns were governed by a mayor and a town council.

common law

a body of rulings made by judges that became part of a nation's legal system

bubonic plague

a deadly contagious disease caused by bacteria and spread by fleas; also called the Black Death

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

a governing body created by King Edward II; created to include more people in the government

longbow

a large bow used for firing feathered arrows

crossbow

a medieval weapon made up of a bow that was fixed across a wooden stock and operated by a trigger

journeyman

a person who has learned a particular trade or craft but had not become an employer or master

heretic

a person who holds beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of a church or other group

commoner

a person who is not of noble rank

apprentice

a person who works for an expert in a trade or craft in return for training

habeas corpus

a principle that accused persons cannot be held in jail without consent of the court

leprosy

a skin and nerve disease that causes open sores on the body & can lead to serious complications or death

miracle play

a type of religious drama in the Middle Ages based on stories about saints

mystery play

a type of religious drama in the Middle Ages based on stories from the Bible

magna carta

a written agreement from 1215 that limited English king's power and strengthened the rights of nobles

charter

a written grant of rights & privileges by a ruler or government to a community,class of people, or organization

guild

an organization of people who work in the same craft or trade

how did a person become a member of a guild?

became an apprentice and learned from a master craft-man, when ready they created a masterpiece to show the master and if the master approved, they became a member of the guild

how were Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe?

blamed for diseases/illnesses, were not aloud to own property, could not join a guild, could basically only be bankers or money lenders, and were often accused of being greedy

what role did merchants play in the growth of medieval European towns?

brought all goods people needed to the market place

why was the plague called the Black Death?

came from the black and blue botches that appeared on the skin of many victims

what areas of the world were affected by the spread of the plague in the 14th century?

central Asia, possibly in China, spread throughout China, India, the Near East, and Europe

how did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful members of towns?

controlled products that people wanted, and could choose the price as high up as people would pay

how did the church's attitude toward mystery and miracle plays differ from that of most townspeople?

disapproved of both mystery and miracle plays, became offended

Specifically, how did improvements in agriculture leave to the growth of towns?

farming techniques got better so they could create a surplus and people moved to town

how did the war contribute to the decline of feudalism?

helped shift power from feudal lords to monarchs and common people

What is the difference between a master craft man and a journeyman?

journeyman worked for people on a daily basis and a craft man was a part of a guild and owned their own shop

King Edward I

king John's grandson, became king of Europe in 1295, called together a governing body called the Model Parliament

King Edward III

king of England, fought France in Hundred Year War from 1337-1453

King Henry II

king of Europe who reigned from 1154-1189, insisted that a jury formally accuse a person of a serious crime

King Phillip VI

king of France in 1337, challenged King Edward III's claim; started Hundred Year War

Describe 2 things that doctors relied on.

leeches & herbs

what was the difference between mystery plays and miracle plays?

mystery- acted out stories from the Bible miracle- dramatized lives of saints

Define mystery and miracle plays and explain how the church felt about this?

mystery- recreated stories from the Bible miracle- stories that tell the lives about saints the Church felt offended, thought they were mocking the Bible

where were towns in medieval Europe often located, and why?

on rivers, near castles because of trade and transportations

what were guilds? why were they established?

organization of people in the same craft or trade; to improve the quality of goods

What was one key result of the Magna Carta?

the king had less rights

how did guilds help members and families of members?

they improved quality of goods and worked together to advance the interests of the guild

why were the homes of most town dwellers uncomfortable?

very small, damp, dim/dark, sometimes cold, tried to keep warm with fire but since there were no windows, the house got smoky

what did homes in medieval European towns look like?

plain, small, one-story, about 2 rooms

what changes did the magna carta bring about in English government?

protected the rights and privileges of the nobles. "no freeman" can be jailed except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the lord

Most medieval towns where located near what geographic feature and why?

rivers/sea so the merchants could travel for trade

how did the way in which those accused of crimes were treated begin to improve in the 12th century?

set up a nationwide system of royal courts

minstrel

singer/musician who sang or recited poems to music played on a harp or another instrument

what were the Middle Ages also known as?

the Age of Faith

how was the plague spread?

the bacteria that caused the plague was spread by fleas

What 2 groups were weakened by the reforms of Henry II?

the bishops and the nobles

commerce

the buying and selling of goods

what were some ways criminals were punished in medieval Europe?

-jail -death (combat) -fined (minor crimes) -put in stocks -hanged -burned at stake

how did these political developments in England contribute to the decline of feudalism in Europe?

-limited the power of English monarchs -King Henry II's legal reforms strengthened common law, judges, juries, and Edward I's Model Parliament gave a voice to common people

why were towns in medieval Europe dangerous places?

-pickpockets/thieves were always on the lookout for travelers with money -no streetlights so at night it was very dark

what were some games that were popular with children in medieval Europe?

-played with dolls, wooden swords, hobby horses -rolled hoops -played badminton, law bowling, and man's bluff

what were some common practices used by medieval doctors?

-they put leeches all over your body to suck up all the blood, believed this treated illnesses -herbs

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

-chess, checkers, backgammon -card games, bet on rolled dice, went dancing

how did unhealthy living conditions and limited medical knowledge affect life in medieval European towns?

-diseases had no cures -no one knew how they spread

Joan of Arc

17-year-old peasant girl who lead a French army to victory in the Battle of Orleans in 1429; claimed she heard the voices of saints urging her to save France

How did guilds help other members of the guild and how did they help all consumers?

Guilds provided protection for each other and ensuring that all things were high quality.

King John

Henry's youngest son, became king of Europe in 1199, in June of 1215 angry barons forced a meeting with King John complaining about being heavily taxed and traditional rights being ignored, and arrested opponents at will. barons insisted Henry to sign the Magna Carta

what group was sometimes blamed when an outbreak of a disease occurred?

Jews

What event in England gave commoners a voice in the government?

The Model Parliament.

What building was usually in the center of town in why?

The church because it was the most important building in the Age of Faith.