Christianity in Europe
What major event in 1054 split Christianity into two branches?
The Great Schism.
What happened to Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
It became politically fragmented.
Which religion controlled large parts of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages?
Islam.
What was exchanged in the feudal system between lords and vassals?
Land for loyalty and military service.
What are the two branches of Christianity formed by the Great Schism?
Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholicism.
What was the main unifying institution in Western Europe?
The Roman Catholic Church.
What was the "Reconquista"?
A centuries-long effort by Christians to retake the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rulers.
What was manorialism?
A system where peasants (serfs) worked the land in exchange for protection from their lord.
Where were the religious centers for the Eastern and Western branches?
Eastern Orthodox was centered in Constantinople; Roman Catholicism in Rome.
Why was the Catholic Church so powerful during this time?
Almost everyone was Roman Catholic, giving the Church massive influence over society and politics
When did the Reconquista end?
In 1492
What is a serf?
A peasant bound to the land, not a slave but not free.
Which group preserved Eastern Orthodox Christianity after the fall of Constantinople?
The Rus (early Russians)
Who was the most powerful religious leader in Western Europe?
The Pope.
How were Jews treated in medieval European societies?
They faced antisemitism, legal and social restrictions, and were often marginalized.
Why was feudalism important during the Middle Ages?
It provided structure and stability during a time of political fragmentation.
What were the main theological and political differences that caused the split?
: Disagreements over papal authority, the use of icons, and differences in church governance and language (Greek vs. Latin).
How did the Church shape culture and society in medieval Europe?
Through control of education, moral authority, enforcement of laws aligned with Church doctrine, and influence over kings and nobles.
Despite persecution, how did Jewish and Muslim communities contribute to European culture?
They preserved classical knowledge, advanced science and philosophy, and facilitated intellectual exchanges during periods of coexistence.
How did the rise of monarchs in the 1200s impact feudalism?
Centralized monarchies weakened the power of nobles, leading to conflict and the decline of feudal structures.