Unit 1 (part 1)
Why did the Romans built fortifications along the Rhine and Danube rivers?
From time to time the Germans harass the Roman borders.
What was the main economic activity of the Visigoth monarchy?
The main economic activity was agriculture.
The cities gradually became depopulated and the craft activities have changed little since Roman times. Some were maintained, such as the elaboration of weapons. Trade also went into decline, so the currency almost disappeared.
The emperor directly appointed the counts and marquises, who had to swear__________.
Allegiance
Describe a Monastery.
Monasteries or abbeys were places of prayer where monks or nuns lived. There were different religious orders and each had a rule, that is, a set of rules that established its organization, the obligations of its members and the schedule of daily activities.
Define feudalism
The dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.
Describe examples of Germanic and barbarian people?
Some barbarian peoples, such as the Huns, came from the steppes of Asia, very inhospitable areas. They were mainly dedicated to livestock and constantly harassed other peoples.
There were also barbarian peoples who came from northern and eastern Europe; they were the Germans. They were organized into tribes, led by an assembly of warriors who elected the chief.
After 507 when the Franks defeated the Visigoths and expelled them from Gaul, the Visigoths ________________________________________.
settled on the Iberian Peninsula and established their capital in Toledo.
The royal army was small, so to defend the kingdom, the monarch depends on ___________.
the private armies of the nobles.
Medieval society was organized into three groups called _________
The nobility, the clergy, and the workers.
Why did people think the world was going to end in 1000?
As Europe became more divided and wars ensued, people interpreted calamities as punishment from God and the idea that the end of the world would come in the year 1000 was spread.
What is at the top of the Byzantine pyramidal structure?
The basileus
What is a mosque?
A meeting place for prayer.
The mosque was also used as a school and as a space in which important news was spread or political appointments were proclaimed
Charlemagne established the capital of the Empire in _______ on the riverside of the Rhine. There he built his palace, which consisted of several buildings.
Aachen
_____________ were a form of military training and a way to earn prestige. The ceremonial began days before the fighting, with the challenge between the participants, and ended with a great popular festival.
Tournaments
During the spread of Christianity, when did the first crusade take place?
The first crusade took place between 1095 and 1099. After the occupation of Jerusalem by the Turks, Pope Urban II called on the Christians to liberate the Holy Land.
Who was Justinian?
The Byzantine Empire reached its greatest splendor in the time of Emperor Justinian who ruled with his wife Theodora between 527 and 565.
Justinian tried to rebuild the unity of the ancient Roman Empire. His army defeated the Vandals in North Africa, the Ostrogoths in Italy, and the Visigoths in southern Hispania.
During this stage there was great economic prosperity and cultural development.
How did Islam arise?
In Medina, Muhammad recruited an army, and eight years later he conquered Mecca. From there, Islam spread throughout Arabia. At his death in 632, Islam had spread to the west of the Arabian peninsula.
To help them in the tasks of government, the kings surrounded themselves with a group of people, initially relatives or friends of the monarch, who formed the ____________.
Curia or Royal Council.
What did the ladies of the nobility do?
The ladies of the nobility had as their main function to marry and have children to continue the lineage.
Noble women were primarily concerned with educating the youngest children and organizing domestic works, in which they were assisted by servants.
What is the Koran?
The holy book of Muslims. It describes the five fundamental obligations that every Muslim must fulfil.
The Koran also contains rules for everyday life; for example, it allows polygamy and prohibits eating pork, drinking wine and participating in games of chance.
Who was Muhammed and what was the Hegira?
Muhammad, a merchant in Mecca from a wealthy family who at the age of forty began to preach a new religion, Islam.
He defended the existence of a single god. His message was fought by the rich merchants of Mecca, who saw in him a threat to the social order. In 622, Muhammad fled to Medina. This date is called Hegira and marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
Who/What was the caliph and who was their counselor?
The highest authority in the Islamic Empire was the caliph, who exercised political and religious power, led the army, made laws, and was the supreme judge. He was assisted by various officials.
The viziers were the counselors ministers.
Upon the death of a Frankish king, the kingdom was .....
divided among his sons.
* The Empire was divided among his descendants: Carlos the Bald, who received the western part; Luis the Germanic, who occupied the eastern zone; and Lotario, who inherited the title of emperor and the intermediate territory between the other two.
In feudal Europe the church had great ______ and _______ power.
Political; economic
Work in the fields:
Why was agricultural yield very low?
As they had only the manure produced by livestock, it was necessary to let the land rest. Each year only half of the land was cultivated and the other half was left fallow, in other words, uncultivated, so that the land would regain its fertility.