Social and Economic Unrest
Why did many peasants resist government attempts to freeze wages after the Black Death?
A. Labor scarcity gave workers reason to expect higher wages
B. Guilds had already eliminated paid labor
C. The pope prohibited peasants from earning money
D. The manorial system had created a labor surplus
A. Labor scarcity gave workers reason to expect higher wages
. Which later movement was most directly foreshadowed by criticism of Church corruption and calls for
reform?
A. The Protestant Reformation
B. The Crusades
C. The rise of feudalism
D. The Norman Conquest
A. The Protestant Reformation
How did the Great Schism weaken Church authority?
A. It transferred ownership of all Church land to peasants
B. It ended Christianity in Western Europe
C. Competing claims exposed political divisions within Church leadership
D. It prevented priests from providing any religious services
C. Competing claims exposed political divisions within Church leadership
Why did the English longbow weaken the traditional military advantage of the feudal nobility?
A. It made stone castles impossible to construct
B. It allowed trained foot soldiers to defeat armored knights from a distance
C. It prevented monarchs from hiring professional troops
D. It could only be used by members of the nobility
B. It allowed trained foot soldiers to defeat armored knights from a distance
Which circumstance most directly allowed the Black Death to spread from Asia into European port
cities?
A. The movement of merchants and ships along established trade routes
B. The migration of French armies into the Italian city-states
C. The collapse of agricultural production before the plague
D. The decision of European rulers to close inland markets
A. The movement of merchants and ships along established trade routes
Why did expanding towns weaken the economic independence of manors?
A. Towns prohibited the sale of agricultural products
B. Urban residents refused to use money
C. Kings required every merchant to become a serf
D. Towns offered markets, wages, and opportunities outside manorial control
D. Towns offered markets, wages, and opportunities outside manorial control
What does the spread of peasant uprisings suggest about late medieval society?
A. Social classes had become completely equal
B. Nobles no longer controlled any land
C. Traditional obligations were increasingly challenged by economic and demographic change
D. Peasants wanted to strengthen the manor system
C. Traditional obligations were increasingly challenged by economic and demographic change
. Which action eventually resolved the Great Schism?
A. England and France selected separate permanent popes
B. The French king became the head of the Church
C. The Holy Roman emperor abolished the papacy
D. The Council of Constance removed or accepted the resignation of rival claimants and selected one pope
D. The Council of Constance removed or accepted the resignation of rival claimants and selected one pope
What dispute most directly triggered the Hundred Years' War?
A. Competing English and French claims involving territory and succession to the French throne
B. A disagreement over control of the Byzantine Empire
C. A peasant demand to abolish the English Parliament
D. A papal order requiring France to invade Italy
A. Competing English and French claims involving territory and succession to the French throne
Why did the plague contribute to declining confidence in established institutions?
A. Religious and political leaders appeared unable to explain or control the disaster
B. The disease affected only members of the clergy and nobility
C. European universities proved that trade had no connection to disease
D. Monarchs immediately ended taxation and warfare
A. Religious and political leaders appeared unable to explain or control the disaster
How did the growth of a money economy affect feudal relationships?
A. Payments and contracts increasingly replaced traditional labor services
B. Knights stopped needing weapons and training
C. Local lords gained complete control over international trade
D. Peasants became legally unable to move
A. Payments and contracts increasingly replaced traditional labor services
Which combination most directly contributed to the English Peasants' Revolt of 1381?
A. Low taxes, abundant labor, and strong support for serfdom
B. Heavy taxation, wage restrictions, and resentment of feudal obligations
C. A dispute over succession to the French throne
D. The election of rival popes in Rome
B. Heavy taxation, wage restrictions, and resentment of feudal obligations
25. Which development best shows the growing political power of monarchs over the Church?
A. Monarchs stopped maintaining armies
B. The pope controlled every royal tax system
C. King Philip IV successfully challenged Pope Boniface VIII
D. European nobles elected the pope through Parliament
C. King Philip IV successfully challenged Pope Boniface VIII
Why did the English longbow weaken the traditional military advantage of the feudal nobility?
A. It made stone castles impossible to construct
B. It allowed trained foot soldiers to defeat armored knights from a distance
C. It prevented monarchs from hiring professional troops
D. It could only be used by members of the nobility
B. It allowed trained foot soldiers to defeat armored knights from a distance
Why were densely populated medieval towns especially vulnerable to the Black Death?
A. Most towns prohibited residents from obtaining food
B. Crowded housing and poor sanitation encouraged rats and fleas to thrive
C. Town governments required infected residents to attend public meetings
D. Urban residents had no contact with surrounding rural communities
B. Crowded housing and poor sanitation encouraged rats and fleas to thrive
Which development most directly strengthened monarchs while weakening feudal nobles?
A. The disappearance of taxation
B. The creation of centralized administrations and paid armies
C. The return to barter on isolated manors
D. The expansion of private warfare between vassals
B. The creation of centralized administrations and paid armies
. Why did many peasants resist government attempts to freeze wages after the Black Death?
A. Labor scarcity gave workers reason to expect higher wages
B. Guilds had already eliminated paid labor
C. The pope prohibited peasants from earning money
D. The manorial system had created a labor surplus
A. Labor scarcity gave workers reason to expect higher wages
23. Which criticism was commonly directed at the late medieval Church?
A. Some clergy appeared more concerned with wealth and political power than spiritual duties
B. The Church refused to own land or collect revenue
C. Church leaders supported the abolition of every monarchy
D. Priests required all Christians to attend universities
A. Some clergy appeared more concerned with wealth and political power than spiritual duties
What dispute most directly triggered the Hundred Years' War?
A. Competing English and French claims involving territory and succession to the French throne
B. A disagreement over control of the Byzantine Empire
C. A peasant demand to abolish the English Parliament
D. A papal order requiring France to invade Italy
A. Competing English and French claims involving territory and succession to the French throne
Which development best illustrates how population loss altered the medieval labor system?
A. Nobles gained a larger supply of workers willing to accept lower pay
B. Kings transferred all farmland to the Catholic Church
C. Surviving workers demanded wages and greater freedom because labor was scarce
D. Guilds required all peasants to return to isolated manors
C. Surviving workers demanded wages and greater freedom because labor was scarce
Which statement best explains why many medieval revolts failed in the short term but remained
historically important?
A. They immediately abolished all class distinctions
B. They restored serfdom wherever it had disappeared
C. They revealed widespread resistance to taxes, restrictions, and feudal obligations
D. They transferred control of Europe to merchant guilds
C. They revealed widespread resistance to taxes, restrictions, and feudal obligations
. A historian argues that the Great Schism was both a religious and political crisis. Which evidence best
supports that claim?
A. Church services continued in local parishes
B. Monasteries preserved ancient manuscripts
C. Pilgrims continued visiting religious sites
D. European rulers supported different popes based partly on political alliances
D. European rulers supported different popes based partly on political alliances
Why were the teachings of John Wycliffe and Jan Hus considered threatening by Church authorities?
A. They demanded that monarchs surrender their kingdoms to the pope
B. They questioned Church practices and emphasized scriptural authority
C. They argued that Europeans should return to pagan religions
D. They supported the existence of multiple rival popes
B. They questioned Church practices and emphasized scriptural authority
Which development during the war best demonstrates the transition away from feudal warfare?
A. Greater reliance on temporary service from local vassals
B. The replacement of infantry with mounted nobles
C. Growing use of paid soldiers, longbows, and gunpowder weapons
D. The refusal of monarchs to collect taxes for military campaigns
C. Growing use of paid soldiers, longbows, and gunpowder weapons
A noble attempted to keep wages at their pre-plague level despite a severe labor shortage. What was
the most likely result?
A. Workers accepted the decision because employment opportunities had disappeared
B. The manor produced more food with fewer workers
C. The noble gained greater control over nearby towns
D. Workers resisted, relocated, or demanded improved conditions
D. Workers resisted, relocated, or demanded improved conditions