Religion
What is the College of Cardinals?
It was officially formed in 1058 by Pope Nicholas II in order to try and eliminate much of the conflict that the Holy Roman Empire caused when a new Pope was set to be chosen in the past.
What is the difference between a Serf and a Slave?
A Serf is someone with a small amount of upward mobility at the very least. There are ways to get out of their servitude, by buying land, marrying a free person, or paying off their landowner. Slaves are not at all afforded these privleges, they are almost permanently required to live their entire lives owned by their slavers.
What was the reason for the Crusades, and where they mainly focused around?
The Crusades were an entirely religion based war, with each side attempting to regain control over “The Holy Land.” This holy land is considered to be where modern day Israel is, as that is where the biblical Holy Land was located.
Who was Joan of Arc?
On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was executed for the crime of “heresy” on suspicion that she had ignored church authority in order to take orders directly from God. She was later after her death given sainthood because of her many accomplishments during the Hundred Years War.
Give a brief summary of the epic poem, Beowulf
Beowulf travels to Heorot to help Hrothgar and his men by not only slaying Grendel, the monster that actively plagues them, but also his mother once she learns of the death of her son. After the fact, Beowulf returns home victorious and many years pass with him being a prosperous king before a fire breathing dragon attacks the kingdom. Beowulf and his friend Wiglaf successfully defeat the dragon, but at the price of Beowulf’s life, with him leaving the entire kingdom to Wiglaf as his final wish.
Who was Charlemagne?
Charlemagne was the son of Pepin who was the first Carolingian king, given power by the Pope for defeating the Lombards. Charlemagne took over Frankish rule after the death of his brother and was eventually named Emperor by Pope Leo. He was best known for being the first emperor to work with the pope and somewhat reunite the Holy Roman Empire as at this point most people were looking to the pope for guidance.
Explain Martin Luther’s 95 Theses?
On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of his church which started the Protestant Reformation. He wanted there to be a much more open discussion about religion to occur then there currently was. The main points that he made had to deal with the overbearing nature of the current catholic church, as well as the need for a much more independent relationship with God for each person.
What were the social implications of hunting during this period of time?
Hunting was a pastime reserved only for the nobility during this time period. Hunting in periods before this was seen as a necessity, during this time it was for the nobles' entertainment.
Who was responsible for the first sack of Rome?
The “barbaric” Visigoth Empire which ruled much of present-day Spain, led the sack of Rome in 410, making it no longer the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. This was the first time in 800 years that Rome had fallen to an external enemy; however, Rome remained the spiritual center of the HRE.
What event led to the legalization of Christianity in the Holy Roman Empire?
On October 28th, 312, The Battle of Milvian Bridge took place, a Civil battle between Constantine, the eventual sole emperor, and Maxentius. It was said that prior to the battle, Constantine had a dream about a cross engraved with the phrase, I will conquer. He ultimately won the battle and Christians attributed it to the will of God. Due to this influence on his success, Constantine legalized the religion but he would not convert until later in his life.
Who invented the printing press, and when was it created?
Johannes Gutenberg created the printing press in 1444, first printing bibles and pamphlets. Without his invention, the renaissance era would not at all have been possible.
What was the Treaty of Verdun, and who was involved?
The Treaty of Verdun split the entire Carolingian Empire into three territories, one of each awarded to the three sons of Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne after his death. This created many borders still relevant today, including modern day France and Germany.
Who was responsible for the Icelandic Conversion to Christianity?
Towards the end of the tenth century, King of the Norwegian Empire, Olaf I Trygvasson forced the Norwegian public to convert to Christianity, sending missionaries to Iceland in the process. This marked a period of complete Norwegian conversion to Christianity and an end to the Old Norse religion.
What was the Silk Road?
The silk road was able to link much of the advanced Western Europe society with middle and East Asia. It ended up being a direct route of trade between the Roman empire and China which allowed for the trade of goods that could otherwise not be manufactured in their respective areas. The Silk Road would eventually be responsible for the rich economies of many Italian cities including Venice.
What were the main issues that led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
The fall of the Roman Empire was the result of multiple factors. Particularly the government had gone through a period called The Crisis of the Third Century which was a period of time with a series of 22 changing emperors due to political unrest and mutiny. The rule of Diocletian and at the beginning of the fourth century returned control to the government by way of the tetrarchy, but ultimately a series of civil wars led to Constantine becoming the one ruler of the Roman Empire which could not be sustained.
What religion is the ancient prophet Mohammed credited for creating?
The prophet Mohammed is the creator of the religion of Islam. He is considered the final prophet of God himself. He and his followers faced persecution for many years before they fled from Mecca to Medina in 622 before he passed away 10 years later in 632.