Chapter 23 Study Guide - A Changing Medieval World

What were guilds?

A guild is a group of workers practicing the same craft, who join together to protect their economic interests.

What was drama like during the middle ages?

Actors put on "mystery plays" based on stories from the bible. Many of the plays were staged by the church to introduce the bible to a predominately illiterate population.

What was important about the harness and the horseshoe?

1) The harness gave the farmers more control over the horse. 2) The harness also allowed the horse to pull heavier loads without injury. 3) The horseshoe gave the horse more stability.

Why did a famine occurred in Europe between 1315-1317?

1) The weather: it rained so much the crops were ruined and cattle died. 2) The Black Death spread across Europe leaving too few people healthy enough to grow the food and work the fields. 3) Roaming Armies destroyed crops during the Hundreds Years' War.

What is the three-field system in crop-rotation.

1/3 of the land planted with spring crops, 1/3 planted with winter crops, and 1/3 was left fallow (or empty)

Why were banks needed and how did the banking system work?

Banks were needed because it was not safe to simply carry your money,.. especially if you were traveling trader. So merchants created a system that allowed travelers and traders to deposit their money in one bank and withdraw their money from a different bake. Many of the first banks were established in Italy, which made several Italian families very rich.

After the Bubonic Plague, the feudal system started to come to an end. Why?

Because so many peasant workers died, Manor Lords were desperate for workers. Serfs (the workers) who survived demanded higher wages and left the manor in search of new lords willing to pay higher wages. Many Lords didn't like the idea and responded by trying to limit the serf's movements and freeze their pay. The peasants revolted... killing lords and burning manors. The revolts were eventually crushed but feudalism never recovered.

Explain the growth of universities.

Before the medieval university grew into existence, students were mostly studying to become priests at schools attached to cathedrals. But during the medieval period these schools began teach more subjects and quickly grew into universities that focused on training scholars at the highest level (not just religious learning but learning at a broad level). Students focused on the "liberal arts" meant to develop their powers of reasoning. People came from all over Europe to study in Bologna in Italy, and Paris in France, and Oxford in England. One interesting fact: because the church preserved Latin as an official language, students who spoke different languages were able to come together and communicate and learn in Latin (a shared language).

How did monasteries play an important role in the middle ages?

Before the middle ages, priests and nuns focused on prayer and meditation... they were cutoff from the world. That changed during the middle ages. Now, Monasteries were the center of life. In rural areas, monasteries were the center of agricultural production. In the cities, the monasteries were the centers of education. They also provided charity to people in need.

Who were the Cistercian Monks and what did they do for society?

Cistercian monks helped expand farming in Europe. They were particularly instrumental in introducing sheep farming to new regions. They also sold agricultural products including wool from the sheep. In this way they strengthened the trade of textiles (cloth). Also, many Cistercian monasteries were in the country, so the monks used the peasants to cultivate the land for the first time. The Cistercians embraced poverty and simplicity. They were also known to be beggars.

What weapon gave the English an advantage in the war?What other important weapons came into use at this time?

EARLY BATTLES: The longbow was the powerful weapon that helped England win the early battles. LATER BATTLES: Guns and cannons.

The Hundred Years War was fought by what countries and why?

Edward III of England claimed the throne of France. The war was between France and England. 1337- 1453.

Who was St. Francis of Assisi?

He was one of the best known mendicant priests. He grew up rich and spoiled. But he had a powerful religious experience and believed he was called to live as simply as Jesus. He believed that all nature was a reflection of God and referred to animals as his brothers and sisters. He established the Franciscan Order, which still exists today.

Who was Thomas Aquinas and what did he emphasize?

He was one of the greatest medieval scholars. He was a professor at the University of Paris. He believed that human reason was the best path to discover knowledge. In contrast, many church scholars believed that faith was the only path to truth. Aquinas wanted to show that reason and faith could go together. He argued that because both faith and reason came from God they were not in conflict. Aquinas also believed in natural law. Natural law is different than man-made laws, which change over time depending on the needs of a society and may change from one country to another. Natural laws on the other hand, do not change overtime. They are developed through human reasoning and stay true through time and don't change from place to place. NOTE: What would Thomas Aquinas powerfully argue? That "both faith and reason come from God."

Why were the new systems of farming (with crop rotation) better than the old systems of farming?

In farming, the practice of changing the use of the fields over time. At first, farmers used a two-field system. One field was planted and the second field was left fallow (unplanted). The following year (or season) the fallow field would be planted and the planted field would be left fallow. This process allowed the soil to recover some of its natural fertility. Later, farmers would develop a 3 field system. New farming techniques led to more textiles (like wool) and more healthier foods. Plus, farmers could now guarantee a steadier year-round supply of these items, which historians believe led to an increase in the population... many of these new people moved to city-centers to be part of the emerging trade economy.

How did trade increase during this time?

Increased trade is directly related to increased food. Because there was so much food, they could trade the excess. Also, the crusades led to an awareness of "what's out there beyond our borders" so people started trading with other countries. Soon, each country became known for their specific trade items.

Who became the scapegoat for the disease?

Jews were accused of spreading the plague by poisoning wells.

How did the practice of chivalry change during this time (specifically with knights)?

KNIGHTS WERE NOW EXPECTED TO DEFEND THE CHURCH... NOT THE KING. When chivalry -- which was mostly a code of conduct designed to control the behavior of knights -- was first instituted, it was about bravery and loyalty to the king. But during the medieval period, the church began to reshape chivalry (and the code of knights) to reflect the values of the church (especially generosity and humility and mercy). KNIGHTS WERE NOW EXPECTED TO DEFEND THE CHURCH... NOT THE KING. This new type of chivalry left a permanent mark on European manners and lasts to this day, with an emphasis on bravery and honesty and courtesy and honor.

In what way did increased food production change society?

More food = more people. So increased food production led to 1) population growth, 2) a more vibrant economy 3), increased trade, and 4) more people moving to town-centers.

What are the advances of architecture during the middle ages?

Religion also inspired much of the groundbreaking architecture of the period. Especially the new building style that came to be known as Gothic. Many Medieval Cathedrals can be described as Gothic. Gothic combined religious symbolism and imagery (such as stained glass windows) with engineering advances that permitted architects to build larger buildings (such as Flying Buttresses). The Gothic cathedrals first appeared in France -- but because they were so beautiful, especially compared to the dark and gloomy churches they replaced -- they began to rise all over Europe.

Who was Joan of Arc and how did she help France? What happened to her?

She was a young peasant woman who claimed that voices from heaven told her to dress in knight's clothing. She turned the tide of the war in favor of France by leading the French army to victory in several key battles against the English. Joan was eventually captured by the English, tried for heresy, and burned at the stake. The French defeated the English and won the war after Joan's death. She is honored today in France as a hero and a saint.

What was the horrible disease that swept through Europe in the mid 1300s and how did it affect the population? Where did the disease come from?

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE (The Great Dying... later became known as The Black Death). One theory suggests that it was spread by fleas that lived on rats. But one form of the disease was carried through the air and inhaled. The Plague arrived in Europe from Asia on merchant ships. The disease started in the port cities and spread across Europe. Soon every corner of Europe was infected. The disease killed a significant amount of Europe and Asia's population.

Why was the middle ages often called "The Age of Faith?"

The Middle Ages are called The Age of Faith because of the rise of religion in everyday life: including architecture, music, art and literature. At the same time, the crusades -- a series of wars fought in the name of God -- dominated politics and the rule of the monarchs.

What was the mendicant order?

The mendicant orders were founded to fight heresy and to preach to ordinary people. Mendicants or beggars owned no property. They survived by begging for food and drink. EXAMPLE: The Franciscans, founded by St. Francis Assisi, was a mendicant order.

What are some examples of guilds and how did they work?

There was a guild for merchants and a guild for shoemakers... there was a guild for weavers and bricklayers guild. Workers who practiced these trades or professions joined together to protect their economic interests. Members of the guilds paid dues. Those dues were used to help the collective membership. For example, if a guild member died, the guild would pay for the funeral and often take care of the worker's widow and children. Also, guilds created standards and regulations. They controlled where a guild member could could sell their goods and also controlled the quality of goods by setting standards... if a guild member sold shoddy goods or cheated a customer that guild member could be punished.

How did the growth of towns begin to weaken the feudal manor system?

Towns were beyond the control of the lords who ruled the manors. Wealthy townsmen often controlled the local government not the lords. This meant that the average person was more free in the city. Because these emerging towns offered wealth and prosperity and freedom to regular citizens, many peasants left the manor for a chance at a better life in the the city. As peasants deserted the rural manors, the feudal system began to collapse.

How did the new iron plow and the horse improve farming during the High Middle Ages?

Two words: "increased efficiency." Iron blades cut deeper into the soil and turned over more dirt, and it did it more quickly than wooden blades (that is, the iron plow was more effiecient). Horses were faster than Oxen and did not require as much food (again, they were more efficient than the oxen). Special Note: peasants also developed a harness that allowed farmers to better-control the horses and allowed the horses to pull heavier loads without injury.