Topic 7: Medieval Christian Europe (330-1450)

William the Conqueror

(1028-1087) became the Duke of Normandy at age 7 and was knighted at age 15. He pressured King Edward of England to name him heir to the throne. Upon Edward's death, he invaded England and won the throne after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Pope Urban II

(1042-1099) was the leader of the Roman Catholic church at the time the Seljuk Turks were threatening the Byzantine empire. He convened the Council of Clermont, where he launched the First Crusade to win the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Henry IV

(1050-1106) was a German king who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1084. His efforts to increase the power of the monarchy led him into conflict with Pope Gregory VIII over lay investiture. Gregory excommunicated him but later reinstated him in the church after he did penance.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

(1122-1204), was an heiress to the dukedom of Aquitaine. At age 15, she married the French royal heir, Louis VI, and became queen of France. Intelligent and energetic, she strongly influenced her husband and went with him on the Second Crusade. Her second marriage was to Henry Plantagenet, who became Henry II of England in 1154. While caring for five sons and three daughters, she actively helped administer England, managed her own domains—making the court at Poitiers a model of courtly life—and remained politically active into her 80s.

St. Francis of Assisi

(1181?-1226) came from a wealthy family and had been a fun-loving and worldly young man. He gave up his wealth to "walk in the footsteps" of Jesus. The first Franciscan friars were his followers, and together they lived a life of service to the poor and sick. He regarded all nature as the mirror of God, and called animals his brothers and sisters. Famous stories tell of him preaching to the birds and convincing a wolf to stop attacking townspeople, if they, in turn, would feed the wolf. The Church made him a saint in 1228.

Louis IX

(1214-1270) was King of France from 1226 to 1270. He was one of the most popular kings of France. He led the Seventh Crusade to the Holy Land and was canonized as a saint in recognition of his faith and services to the Church.

Thomas Aquinas

(1225-1274) was a philosopher, theologian, and monk who helped bridge the gap between medieval faith and the philosophy of reason promoted by Greek philosophy. He also explained the idea of natural law, that there are universal laws based on reason that are independent of laws passed by government.

Dante Alighieri

(1265-1321) was a philosopher, writer, and poet who was deeply involved in Italian politics, including the battles between the popes and monarchs of his time. He held political offices at different times throughout his life. Although he wrote many poems and other works, he is known best for Divine Comedy.

Geoffrey Chaucer

(1343-1400) was the first important poet of his time to write in English. At various times during his life he worked as a copywriter, member of Parliament, and justice of the peace. His keen observations of many different types of people was reflected in his famous work, Canterbury Tales .

Ferdinand and Isabella

(14552-1516) and (1451-1504) They were the king of Aragon and the queen of Castille. Their marriage joined the two countries to become the country of Spain. Their military efforts were responsible for the final success of the Reconquista.

Ivan the Great

(1462-1505) was one of the most powerful Russian rulers. He consolidated his power by winning the voluntary allegiance of Russian princes and preventing further Mongol invasions.

Ivan the Terrible

(1530-1584) was the grandson of Ivan the Great. He continued to centralize power in his own hands, developing a brutal secret group that terrorized members of the hereditary nobility, or boyars . His eventual insanity contributed to his name

Clovis

(466-511) is known as the political and religious founder of the kingdom of the Franks. He ruled much of Gaul from the late fifth century until 511. His kingdom, which expanded south and west from what is present-day Belgium and northeastern France, was the most powerful in Gaul. He was also the most important ally of the Byzantine emperor Anastasius I. Born a pagan, he corresponded with the powerful bishops of Gaul and, in 496 or perhaps later, became famous as one of the first Germanic kings to convert to Christianity.

Justinian

(483-565) was born of peasant stock and adopted by his uncle Justin (emperor from 518). As the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565, he continued the war with Persia and sought to win back former western Roman provinces from barbarian invaders. After riots and a major fire in 532, he rebuilt much of Constantinople in glorious style. He also instituted reforms to stop imperial corruption and promote justice for his subjects. His most influential achievement is his Code, a collection, organization, and revision of Roman laws.

Theodora

(497-548) was the wife of the emperor Justinian and was his most trusted advisor. Known for her powerful intelligence and shrewd political insight, she exerted decisive influence in Byzantine political affairs. She is mentioned by name in almost every law passed during Justinian's reign. She used her position and power to advance her interests, including pioneering efforts for women's rights. She supported strong laws to end the traffic in young women and revised divorce laws in favor of more benefits to women.

Charles Martel

(688-741) served as mayor of the palace (the person who ruled in the name of the king) for the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom from 715 until 741. The illegitimate son of the former mayor, Martel seized power, eventually reunited, and then ruled the entire kingdom of the Franks. Since 711, Muslims had raided Frankish lands, and in 732 they reached Bordeaux. Called to help at the battle of Tours that year, his cavalry halted this last great Muslim advance into Europe.

Charlemagne

(747-814), (or "Charles the Great") king of the Franks, the Lombards, and emperor of the Romans began as a warrior king seeking to conquer territory and distribute plunder in the Frankish tradition. But he also strove to unite and govern an increasingly diverse collection of conquered peoples as well as cope with threats from new invaders. He conducted a long series of successful military campaigns, made efforts to spread Christianity and implement religious reform, sought to make more effective inherited political institutions and procedures and supported cultural renewal through a revival of learning.

Christine de Pisan

(c. 1364-1430) was the daughter of a physician and astronomer in the French court. Highly educated, de Pisan spoke several languages. After being widowed at 25, she began to write poetry and then comment on social issues.

Gregory VII

(c.1025-1085) achieved success in his battle with the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV on the matter of lay investiture. He greatly expanded papal power by claiming his supremacy over secular rulers.

Frederick Barbarossa

(c.1123-1190) was a German king who became Holy Roman Emperor in 1152. He fought hard against growing papal authority and led six expeditions into Italy in an attempt to increase his royal holdings. He died while on the Third Crusade.

Pope Innocent III

(c.1160-1216) was only 37 years old when he became pope and quickly extended the authority of the papacy over Rome and in Italy. When King John of England appointed the archbishop of Canterbury without his approval, the pope excommunicated John.

King John

(c.1166-1216) was a son of King Henry II. He seized control of the English throne when his brother, King Richard the Lionheart, was captured while on crusade. Conflicts with the English nobles led to his forced signature to Magna Carta in 1215, which limited the power of the English kings.

Inquisition

A Church court set up to try people accused of heresy.

D

As towns grew, which group was most likely to take responsibility for making improvements to the town? A. wealthy cathedral bishops B. noblemen on whose land the town was built C. artisan guilds D. merchant guilds

D

Canon law A. only applied to monks and nuns. B. was intended to prevent corruption within the Church and encourage reform. C. was the primary system of secular law in the Middle Ages. D. was based on religious teachings and governed many aspects of medieval life.

C

Charlemagne briefly reunited much of Western Europe by A. ceasing war with his enemies after calling upon the Pope's support. B. compiling the Corpus Juris Civilis to reform laws within his empire. C. sending out missi dominici to keep control over his provincial rulers. D. bringing back missionaries from Asia to strengthen belief at his court.

Reconquista

During the 1400s, the campaign by European Christians to drive the Muslims from present-day Spain.

D

How did Byzantine Christianity influence Russian Orthodox Christianity? A. It set the pattern for good relations with Muslim empires. B. It set the pattern for a church hierarchy led by a pope. C. It set the pattern for the development of an absolute ruler. D. It set the pattern for close ties between Church and state.

B

How did Christianity spread through western and central Europe during the early Middle Ages? A. The Gospels were translated into Latin, the language peasants used. B. Missionaries traveled across the continent, preaching the Gospels. C. The Benedictine Rule forced everyone to pay a tithe to support new churches. D. Monasteries provided education and care for the poor.

C

How did Eastern Europe become home to so many ethnic groups? A. Its geography isolated different groups from each other. B. Its political development made it open to immigration. C. Its geography and location facilitated migration. D. Its location caused the development of cosmopolitan cities.

D

How did Germanic tribes carve Europe into small kingdoms? A. Germanic leaders formed strong alliances. B. Germanic traders set up free-trade zones. C. Germanic priests unified religious groups. D. Germanic kings waged wars of conquest.

B

How did Henry II's belief that his royal courts had the right to try clergymen accused of crimes affect his relationship with the Church? A. It relaxed tensions because the Church was unwilling to try clergymen. B. It caused conflict because both Church and monarch claimed the same powers. C. It made them stronger allies because they could work together to ensure justice. D. It increased tensions because Henry successfully outlawed Church courts in England.

A

How did Justinian's Code have an impact beyond the Byzantine empire? A. It later guided the development of present-day international law. B. It organized ancient Roman laws for use within the empire. C. It provided models for strong alliances between monarchs. D. It promoted trade among Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

A

How did Pope Innocent III assert the power of the Church? A. He stated that the pope was second only to God. B. He authorized the Concordat of Worms. C. He allied himself with the Albigensians against Phillip II. D. He challenged efforts to reform the Church's courts.

A

How did William increase royal power in England? A. He kept land for himself. B. He compromised with his vassals. C. He executed his enemies. D. He freed the serfs.

C

How did a lord MOST benefit from granting a fief to his vassal? A. He collected fees from tournaments. B. He provided protection and money. C. He received loyalty and military service. D. He encouraged better farming methods.

C

How did both townspeople and monarchs benefit from their mutual support? A. Townspeople improved the economy, while monarchs widened their support among nobles. B. Townspeople imposed peace and unity, while monarchs decreased the size of their armies. C. Townspeople improved the economy, while monarchs widened their support in towns. D. Townspeople organized court systems, while monarchs widened their support in towns.

A

How did changes in agricultural production affect medieval Europe? A. Fields became more productive, spurring population growth. B. Farmers left the countryside to move to cities, spurring population growth. C. Lords boosted their incomes, so they were able to pay peasants more. D. Less land was needed for growing crops, so raising animals increased.

D

How did epic poems reflect the culture of medieval Europe? A. They reflected the European ideal that the group was more important than the individual. B. They reflected the belief in the power of compromise and negotiation. C. They reflected the view that the common people were as important as the nobility. D. They reflected themes of loyalty and heroism that were prized in Europe.

C

How did ideas in Justinian's Code influence Western political and legal traditions? A. They provided useful models for modern political campaigns. B. They encouraged European rulers to decentralize their power. C. They helped legal thinkers to create modern international law. D. They supported the development of parliamentary democracy.

A

How did interactions between Muslims and Europeans affect European financial practices? A. Using credit instead of cash became more common in business. B. Insuring goods against loss became a common business practice. C. More Christians were able to lend money at interest. D. Landlords began to pay their peasants in cash.

B

How did new knowledge based on Aristotle and other Greek thinkers pose a challenge to Christian scholars? A. Christians believed that the new knowledge was based on faulty evidence. B. Christians accepted many ideas on faith rather than by using reason. C. The Church said that the popes were greater philosophers than the Greeks. D. The Church decreed that all new knowledge was heretical and dangerous.

D

How did the Church council at Constance, Germany, settle the crisis in 1417? A. The council chose one of the three existing popes to lead the Church. B. The council divided the authority of each pope based on the region of Europe in which the pope held the papal court. C. The council voted to move the Avignon pope back to Rome. D. The council elected a new pope and gave him total authority over the Church.

B

How did the Church gain secular power? A. Monks forced massive numbers of people to convert through fear of punishment. B. The Church's power to deny the sacraments gave the Church power over Christians. C. The Church issued interdicts, laws passed by the Church regardless of secular law. D. Canon law established secular courts under the control of the Church.

C

How did the Hundred Years' War affect the medieval structure of feudalism, in which vassals owed military service to the king? A. The vassal system became more important in winning battles and holding conquered territory for the king. B. The introduction of the longbow and cannon made the vassal system more efficient. C. The need for a larger, standing army with greater mobility made the vassal system obsolete. D. The vassals became commanders of mercenary armies paid by the king to fight.

A

How did the Magna Carta affect the power of the English king? A. It weakened the king's power. B. It closely linked the king's power to the power of the nobles. C. It strengthened the king's power. D. It had no effect on the king's power.

A

How did the collapse of the western Roman empire affect Western Europe? A. Western Europe fell into disorder as invaders swept in. B. Western Europe supported classical learning. C. Western Europe's people moved to cities. D. Western Europe's traders grew wealthy.

D

How did the culture of the Germanic tribes differ from that of the Romans? Disabled A. Germanic kings were chosen by single combat between warriors. Student Selected Incorrect B. Germanic peoples were mostly traders, so they traveled throughout Europe. Disabled C. Germanic peoples lived in great cities administered by a central government. Disabled D. Germanic peoples lived in small communities governed by unwritten customs.

B

How did the development of universities affect members of the growing middle class? A. It made it more difficult for poor people to enter the middle class. B. It provided them an opportunity for advancement. C. It guaranteed them a place in the royal court. D. It forced many to choose between the military and an education.

B

How did the development of universities in medieval Europe strengthen the Church and unify society? A. Students had to learn Latin in local churches before they could study at the universities. B. Universities grew up around cathedrals, and courses of study helped educate clergy. C. Different regions felt a strong attachment to their local university, which strengthened local pride and unity. D. Universities started cathedrals, which were important centers of learning.

C

How did the economic system of manorialism MOST affect nobles? A. They supported peasant efforts to become self-sufficient. B. They let peasants grind grain for a fee at the manor's mill. C. They provided protection and gave peasants land to farm. D. They rewarded peasants with money after good harvests.

A

How did the fall of Rome impact Western Europe? A. Trade slowed greatly, and Western Europe became politically divided. B. Cities grew rapidly, and Western Europe's economies expanded. C. Western Europe's contact with advanced civilizations in Asia increased. D. Waves of Roman immigrants settled in a thriving Western Europe.

C

How did the growth of towns affect the lives of children in the Middle Ages? A. More children worked as farm laborers. B. More children were paid high wages for their work. C. More children had access to education. D. More children were born to each family.

A

How did the growth of trade and manufacturing change women's lives in Europe? A. Women were able to join and even run guilds. B. Women were given access to higher education. C. Women were forced to do dangerous hard labor. D. Women were at risk because towns were dangerous.

D

How did the manor system serve the needs of the early Middle Ages? A. It supported the spread of peasant trade and the increased wealth of their lords. B. It ensured the humane treatment of peasants and curbed the excesses of their lords. C. It encouraged peasants to become independent and their lords to give up some of their rights. D. It provided safety and security for peasants and wealth and prestige for their lords.

D

How did the second Great Schism help lead to the end of medieval Europe? A. It led reformers such as Hus and Wycliffe to leave the Church. B. It provided a reason for the Church to translate the Bible into many languages. C. It created fertile ground for the Black Death to spread. D. It caused people to question the authority of the Church.

A

How was the Church an obstacle to monarchs who wanted more power? A. It challenged monarchs' attempts to control the clergy. B. It promoted the development of individual rights. C. It incited nobles to revolt against monarchs. D. It sent armies against the monarchies of Europe.

C

How would you BEST describe the factors contributing to the development of the political and social system of feudalism? A. Vandals, Goths, and Saxons arriving in Europe caused great economic growth. B. The population of cities declined so rapidly rulers could not maintain order. C. Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars invaded Europe at a time of political weakness. D. The powerful Roman army continued to safeguard citizens of the empire.

Holy Land

Jerusalem and other places where Christians believe Jesus had lived and preached

B

Justinian contributed to the flourishing of the Byzantine empire after Rome's decline by A. freeing slaves throughout the empire. B. reforming the laws of ancient Rome. C. reducing poverty in Constantinople. D. reviving the traditions of ancient Greece.

A

One way in which Russia's geography affected its early history was that A. the lack of natural barriers on the steppe encouraged migration. B. the lack of fertile land promoted the development of trade. C. the river network encouraged contact with Western Europe. D. the mountains protected Russia from invasion.

Vikings

Scandinavian peoples whose sailors raided Europe from the 700s through the 1100s

Magna Carta

The Great Charter approved by King John of England in 1215; it limited royal power and established certain rights of English freemen

A

The Magna Carta was important because it established A. the principle that the monarch must obey the law. B. the limitation of the rights of nobles and freemen. C. the supremacy of the monarchy over the Church. D. a Parliament of lords and common men.

C

The most far-reaching consequence to Europe from the Black Death was A. extensive unemployment. B. the fact that people began to see magic and witchcraft as solutions to problems. C. a change in the basic structure of medieval society. D. the slow growth of towns.

B

We know that religion was central to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages because A. the subjects of all paintings had to be approved by the Church. B. Gothic cathedrals were the major architectural advancement. C. religious icons were in common use. D. the Church dictated the themes and subjects in vernacular poetry.

B

What actions did the patriarch and the pope take following the Great Schism? A. The patriarch banned the use of icons and changed the Nicene Creed. B. The pope and the patriarch excommunicated each other. C. The pope banned the use of icons and excommunicated the patriarch. D. The patriarch rejected papal supremacy and banned the use of icons.

D

What are two factors that probably helped isolate Russia from Western Europe? A. the Cyrillic alphabet and Olga's selection of the Roman Catholic Church B. Yaroslav's written law code and his persecution of the Christian Church C. Its defeat of the Vikings in the 700 and 800s and the abandonment of Novgorod as its capital D. the Cyrillic alphabet and Olga's selection of the Byzantine Church

A

What became a significant threat to Church power as a result of the Great Western Schism? A. Reformers began to challenge the traditional role of the Church. B. The political factions backing different popes began to exert more influence over Church activities. C. The moral authority of the Church weakened. D. The Bible was translated into English.

D

What characteristic of the development of the political and social system of feudalism BEST summarizes the life of knights and nobles? A. Chivalry served them as a way to attain positions of power. B. As lords, they constructed large castles and raised armies. C. They were mainly involved in manor duties and competing in tournaments. D. As vassals, they swore loyalty and provided military service.

B

What compromise resulted from the Concordat of Worms? A. Henry IV claimed supremacy over secular rulers, and the Church was now able to grant land to vassals. B. The Church was granted the power to elect and invest bishops, but the emperor could invest them with fiefs. C. Pope Gregory VII was given the power to raise armies and collect taxes. D. It banned the practice of lay investiture.

A

What elements of Constantinople's location helped it flourish as the capital of the Byzantine empire? A. its location on a strait between seas and on key trade routes B. its location beside a huge lake and bordered by two vast deserts C. its location on a great river and surrounded by high mountains D. its location far from trade routes and close to threatening tribes

B

What happened in France as a result of the Hundred Years' War? A. Noblemen strengthened their control over their traditional family lands. B. The French kings moved to strengthen the monarchy. C. Wealthy French merchants had more of a say in government. D. The Church extended its influence over France.

A

What was one contributing factor to the growth of medieval towns and cities? A. growth of trade fairs B. expansion of serfdom C. increased use of bartering in trade D. a stronger monarchy

D

What was one of the economic impacts of the Black Death? A. higher numbers of fields converted to farming B. overproduction of goods C. decreased wages D. increase in prices

D

What was one of the ways the Crusades helped contribute to the end of medieval Europe? A. Religious tolerance increased. B. Monarchs lost power and authority. C. The Holy Land was secured for Christian pilgrimage. D. Western Europeans developed an expanded view of the world.What was one of the ways the Crusades helped contribute to the end of medieval Europe? A. Religious tolerance increased. B. Monarchs lost power and authority. C. The Holy Land was secured for Christian pilgrimage. D. Western Europeans developed an expanded view of the world.

D

What was one way Ivan III and Ivan IV strengthened their authoritarian rule? A. They allied themselves with the Mongols. B. They increased trade with Western Europe. C. They encouraged peasants to present grievances. D. They limited the power of the boyars.

D

What was one way the histories of medieval Poland and Hungary were similar? A. In both, political power gradually shifted from the nobles to the monarch. B. Both became the ancestors of the Serbs and recognized Byzantine authority. C. Both had been powerful Eastern Orthodox kingdoms that were conquered by the Mongols. D. Both had been powerful Roman Catholic kingdoms that were conquered by different ethnic groups.

A

What was the result of Isabella's efforts to bring religious unity to Spain? A. Many talented people fled Spain. B. Spain became a more tolerant country. C. Isabella became less powerful. D. The people rebelled against the Church.

A

What were two effects of the Holy Roman emperors' attempts to subdue Italy? A. German nobles grew more independent; Italy remained in disarray B. Frederick Barbarossa built an empire from the Baltic to the Adriatic; Spain took control in Italy C. Italian nobles grew more independent; Germany remained in disarray D. the Holy Roman Empire disappeared; Italian cities gained economic power

D

Which BEST summarizes the impact of the Vikings on Western Europe? A. They burned and looted in Western Europe and disrupted Mediterranean trade routes. B. They set up a colony in North America, but also disrupted trade routes to northern Europe. C. They mixed with local populations in Western Europe, helping to unify Charlemagne's empire. D. They burned and looted, but also established trade routes and settled in Western Europe. Check Answer

D

Which actions did French kings take to increase royal power? A. opposed the Church, eliminated bureaucracy, extended royal lands B. won support of the Church, built bureaucracy, antagonized the middle class C. formed the Estates General, eliminated bureaucracy, granted town charters D. granted town charters, introduced national tax, extended royal lands

B

Which actions did Innocent III take to increase the power of the Church? A. eliminated unjust Church courts, launched a crusade against the Albigensians B. launched a crusade against the Albigensians, extended the Papal States C. changed the way that Church officials were chosen, began to tax clergy D. began to tax clergy, extended the Papal States

D

Which could MOST likely have caused peasants on medieval manors to die so young? A. They could be hurt while away from the manor on the lord's service. B. They received no or inadequate medical treatment for their illnesses. C. They could be at risk of injury or death during attacks by rival lords. D. They worked hard and had poor diets, so were vulnerable to disease.

B

Which describes how noblewomen contributed to the economic system of manorialism? A. They brought dowry income to their lord's manor. B. They managed the daily activities of their manor. C. They fostered trade among peasants on their manor. D. They left the manor to support their lord during war.

A

Which is an example of a nation benefiting from its policy of religious tolerance? A. Poland welcomed Jews, who contributed to the country's economic and cultural development. B. Ottoman rulers issued a charter protecting the liberties of Jews, who helped them occupy the Balkans. C. South Slavs settled in the Balkans, which became a unified country. D. German knights and missionaries brought Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Poland and Hungary.

C

Which is the best definition of lay investiture? A. the right of the Church to choose royal advisors B. the right of the pope to remove Church bishops C. the right of the monarch to install Church bishops D. the right of bishops to determine the distribution of fiefs

D

Which is the best example of the way medieval literature reflects its culture? A. Dante's Divine Comedy reflects the humor and joking of everyday life in the Middle Ages. B. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales reflects the sadness and outrage of English people at the murder of St. Thomas Becket. C. Song of Roland reflects the medieval love of music and song, especially love stories. D. Poem of the Cid is a thrilling war tale that reflects the Christian values shared by most Europeans of many cultures.

D

Which of the following contributed to unifying the diverse peoples across Europe? A. Use of Latin, which everyone understood B. Payment of tithes C. Pilgrimages and holy relics D. A shared religious calendar

A

Which of the following is a characteristic of the medieval Eastern Orthodox Church? A. the use of icons in Church teachings and worship B. the belief in papal supremacy C. the use of Latin throughout the Church D. the rejection of secular authority

B

Which of the following items best explains the Crusades' lasting influence on life in Europe? A. They caused wars among the European monarchs. B. They brought new ideas and goods to Europe. C. The sparked an agricultural revolution in Europe. D. They spread religious tolerance throughout Europe.

B

Which of the following items is one reason why Eastern Europe became a refuge for Jews? A. Eastern Europe was at the end of a migration route from Spain. B. Poland's government established a policy of toleration toward Jews. C. Hungary needed people to settle under-populated areas. D. The Mongols drove Jewish people from Russia.

A

Which of the following most likely contributed to the lack of success for Christian Europeans in the Crusades? A. Fighting far from home presented many obstacles. B. Their morale was low because of their religious zeal. C. They refused to negotiate with their Muslim enemies. D. The pope was an inexperienced military leader.

B

Which of the following was one of the ways Christianity spread across Europe? A. The pope ordered interdicts, which established new monasteries. B. Traveling friars lived and preached among the common people. C. Parish priests established schools to attract new converts. D. Secular rulers excommunicated those who would not convert to Christianity.

C

Which positive effect might the rules of chivalry have had on feudal society? A. established the right of women to fight in wars B. required fair treatment of captured commoners C. softened the daily brutality of a warlike society D. promoted equal treatment of lords and vassals

C

Which statement best describes the role of the popes in the Middle Ages? A. They were opposed to mixing spiritual and secular duties. B. They were secular leaders who also claimed spiritual power. C. They were spiritual leaders who also exercised secular power. D. They always opposed reform of the Church or its policies.

B

Which statement best describes the way Gothic cathedrals reflected the culture of the Middle Ages? A. Their tapestry-covered walls reflected the lack of heating and other advanced technologies. B. Their light-filled interiors reflected the longing for religious knowledge and purity. C. Their dark, gloomy interiors reflected the harshness of everyday life. D. Their carved and painted figures reflected the lack of knowledge about the natural world.

A

Which statement best summarizes an important cause of the Hundred Years' War? A. Economic rivalry led England and France to war. B. The desire of monarchs for larger armies and better technology led England and France to war. C. The desire of England to punish Joan of Arc led England to invade France. D. The need of the French Parliament for more revenue led French generals to attack England.

B

Which statement best summarizes the effect of geography on Eastern Europe? A. Rivers had little influence on which parts of the region were influenced by specific foreign cultures. B. Different parts of the region were most influenced by cultures that had easiest access to them. C. Russia was the strongest influence in each of the different regions. D. Invading armies most strongly influenced the different parts of the region.

C

Which was a major effect of Pope Leo III crowning Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans? Disabled A. future collaboration between popes and emperors Student Selected Incorrect B. decline of Latin learning throughout Europe Disabled C. revival of the ideal of a unified Christian community Correct Answer Shown Disabled D. unification of the eastern and western Roman empire

D

Who was the real ruler of the Holy Roman Empire? A. the pope B. the emperor C. the people in each area D. the emperor's vassals

B

Why did people call for reform in the Church? A. They rejected the idea of papal supremacy. B. They wanted to stop abuses of power and corruption within the Church. C. They wanted to worship and celebrate their faith with holy icons. D. They no longer supported the ideas of excommunication and purgatory.

B

Why did prejudice against Jews increase in the late 1000s? A. Muslim rulers in Spain were intolerant of Jews. B. Many medieval Christians were suspicious of Jewish culture and practices. C. Jewish leaders wanted more control of government. D. Christian leaders believed that Jewish leaders were competing with them in an effort to win converts to their religions.

B

Why was Mongol rule over Russia significant? A. It caused Russia to look to China for cultural and political influences. B. It cut off Russia from Western Europe at a time of great scientific progress. C. It prompted Russia to close itself off from the rest of Asia. D. It brought Russia under the influence of Islam both religiously and politically.

A

Why was Thomas Aquinas's argument that knowledge gained through reason was not in conflict with knowledge born of faith significant? A. It led to the growth of scientific inquiry about the natural world and processes. B. It led to the translation of ancient writings into Latin. C. It allowed the Church to dedicate itself to scientific exploration. D. It permitted the Church to argue that Aristotle was, in fact, an early Christian thinker.

B

Why was the invasion of the Byzantine empire by the Seljuk Turks significant? A. It made the papacy less powerful. B. It prompted the first of the Crusades. C. It led to peace between Alexius I and Pope Urban II. D. It gave Alexius I control over the entire Middle East.

C

Why were Byzantine scholars so important to Western Europe? A. They promoted Arabic advances in European courts. B. They translated ancient texts into Arabic and then Latin. C. They helped preserve ancient Greek and Roman ideas. D. They made significant advances in science and mathematics.

knight

a European noble who served as a mounted warrior

Franks

a Germanic tribe that conquered present-day France and neighboring lands in the 400s

partnership

a group of merchants who joined together to finance a large-scale venture that would have been too costly for any individual trader

middle class

a group of people, including merchants, traders, and artisans, whose rank was between nobles and peasants

common law

a legal system based on custom and court rulings

friar

a medieval European monk who traveled from place to place preaching to the poor

tournament

a mock battle in which knights would compete against one another to display their fighting skills

journeyman

a salaried worker employed by a guild master

Crusades

a series of wars from the 1000s through 1200s in which European Christians tried to win control of the Holy Land from Muslims

schism

a split or divide

troubadour

a wandering poet or singer of medieval Europe

apprentice

a young person learning a trade from a master

Black Death

an epidemic of the bubonic plague that ravaged Europe in the 1300s

Magyars

an ethnic group centered in present-day Hungary

lay investiture

appointment of bishops by anyone who is not a member of the clergy

diet

assembly or legislature

battle of Tours

battle in 732 in which the Christian Franks led by Charles Martel defeated the Muslim armies and stopped the Muslim advance into Europe

canon law

body of laws of a church

Kiev

capital of medieval Russia and of present-day Ukraine

Golden Bull of 1222

charter that strictly limited royal power in Hungary

chivalry

code of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages

Justinian's Code

collection of Roman laws organized by the Byzantine emperor Justinian and later serving as a model for the Catholic Church and medieval monarchs

manor

during the Middle Ages in Europe, a lord's estate that included one or more villages and the surrounding lands

manor system

economic system during the Middle Ages in Europe that was built around large estates called manors, which included one or more villages and the surrounding lands

Holy Roman Empire

empire of west central Europe from 962 to 1806, comprising present-day Germany and neighboring lands

vernacular

everyday language of ordinary people

feudal contract

exchange of pledges between lords and vassals

excommunication

exclusion from the Roman Catholic Church as a penalty for refusing to obey Church law

secular

having to do with worldly, rather than religious, matters; nonreligious

Icons

holy image of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church

icon

holy image of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church

vassal

in medieval Europe, a lord who was granted land in exchange for service and loyalty to a greater lord

serf

in medieval Europe, a peasant bound to the lord's land

fief

in medieval Europe, an estate granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service and loyalty

scholasticism

in medieval Europe, the school of thought that used logic and reason to support Christian belief

charter

in the Middle Ages, a written document that set out the rights and privileges of a town

guild

in the Middle Ages, an association of merchants or artisans who cooperated to uphold standards of their trade and to protect their economic interests

interdict

in the Roman Catholic Church, excommunication of an entire region, town, or kingdom

ethnic group

large group of people who share the same language and cultural heritage

capital

money or wealth used to invest in business or enterprise

epidemic

outbreak of a rapidly spreading disease

anti-Semitism

prejudice against Jews

habeas corpus

principle that a person cannot be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime

medieval

referring to the Middle Ages in Europe or the period of history between ancient and modern times

Cyrillic

relating to the Slavic alphabet derived from the Greek and traditionally attributed to St. Cyril; in modified form still used in modern Slavic languages

autocrat

ruler who has complete authority

Benedictine Rule

rules drawn up in 530 by Benedict, a monk, regulating monastic life. The Rule emphasizes obedience, poverty, and chastity and divides the day into periods of worship, work, and study

sacrament

sacred ritual of the Roman Catholic Church

longbow

six-foot-long bow that could rapidly fire arrows with enough force to pierce most armor

tenant farmer

someone who would pay rent to a lord to farm part of the lord's land

steppe

sparse, dry, treeless grassland

flying buttresses

stone supports on the outside of a building that allowed builders to construct higher, thinner walls that contained large stained-glass windows.

illumination

the artistic decoration of books and manuscripts

papal supremacy

the claim of medieval popes that they had authority over all secular rulers

Constantinople

the former Greek city of Byzantium located on the Bosporus strait, rebuilt by Constantine and in 330 made the "New Rome," the capital of the eastern Roman or Byzantine empire

Parliament

the legislature of England, and later of Great Britain

feudalism

the loosely organized system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other support to a greater lord

Great Schism

the official split between the Roman Catholic and Byzantine churches that occurred in 1054; another event was the Great Western Schism, a period when rival popes fought for exclusive power and divided the Roman Catholic Church from 1378-1417

usury

the practice of lending money at intrest

due process of law

the requirement that the government act fairly and in accordance with established rules in all that it does

Balkan Peninsula

triangular arm of land that juts from southeastern Europe into the Mediterranean

Gothic style

type of European architecture that developed in the Middle Ages, characterized by flying buttresses, ribbed vaulting, thin walls, and high roofs