Medieval Europe
What was the main purpose of the feudal system?
To organise society and land in return for loyalty and military service.
Where modern day country was the Aztec empire located?
Modern day Mexico.
What was the Black Death?
A deadly plague that spread across Europe between 1347–1351, killing about one third of the population.
Who sponsored Spanish exploration?
King Charles I of Spain.
What did both societies have in common in terms of hierarchy?
Both had strict class systems with rulers at the top and peasants at the bottom.
What role did the Church play in medieval law and justice?
The Church influenced laws and punishments and taught that crime was a sin against God.
What were chinampas?
Floating farms used by the Aztecs to grow food.
How did the Black Death spread?
Through fleas on rats, human contact, and along medieval trade routes.
Who helped the Spanish communicate with the Aztecs?
La Malinche
What was one main difference in political leadership?
Europe had kings and feudal lords; the Aztecs had one emperor with religious power.
Outline the difference between minor and major crimes.
Minor crimes were small offences like stealing food, while major crimes were serious crimes like murder or treason.
What was the role of jaguar and eagle warriors?
They were elite soldiers in the Aztec army.
What were three common symptoms of the Black Death?
Large painful swellings (buboes), fever, vomiting, and blackened skin.
Give two reasons why the Spanish defeated the Aztecs.
Superior weapons and help from rival tribes like the Tlaxcalans.
Compare the role of religion in both societies.
In both, religion controlled daily life, but Aztec religion included human sacrifice, while Christianity did not.
To what extent do you agree that the Church was more powerful than the King?
Mostly agree – the Church controlled religion, education and influenced rulers, though kings still had military power.
What was daily life like for Aztec farmers?
Farming, paying tribute, working on chinampas, and participating in religious rituals.
Outline how people tried to treat the Black Death?
Leach treatment- Doctors would place leaches on you to suck the bad blood out.
Scapegoating- Blaming others.
Flaggelants- Whipping themselves to erase them of their sins, and hence not be affected by the plague.
What was the Columbian Exchange?
The transfer of foods, animals, diseases, and technology between Europe and the Americas.
Which society offered more social mobility?
The Aztecs, because warriors could rise in status through capturing enemies.
To what extent did the Catholic Church control daily life in Medieval Europe?
Largely – through education, law, morality, and trade; however, kings and nobles still held military and political power.
How useful are Aztec codex sources for historians?
Useful for visuals and culture, but biased as many were rewritten after the Spanish arrived.
Explain two major impacts of the Black Death on Medieval society.
1) Huge population loss led to labour shortages and higher wages for workers.
2) The Church lost power because it couldn’t stop the plague.
Explain one long-term impact of the Spanish conquest.
The spread of Christianity and permanent European control over the Americas.
Overall, which society was more equal? Explain.
Neither – both were very hierarchical, but the Aztec system allowed slightly more movement through military success.