Medieval Hierarchy & Rulers and Robes
Most agricultural land was farmed according to what system in medieval Europe?
The three-field system. This system was an innovation of the Middle Ages in which one-third of the farmland was left fallow, or unplanted, each season. The remaining fields were split between early and late crops, resulting in two harvests. This helped prevent famine by ensuring a back-up crop in case one harvest failed.
What is the Holy Land and where is it located?
The public know it as Israel but it is not Israel. It's Palestine. The Holy Land is centered around the city of Jerusalem.
Who was Saint Bede the Venerable and what was he known for?
Bede, or Saint Bede the Venerable, was an important Benedictine monk who lived during the 600s. He is best known for his historical work, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which records the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons. His work is a valuable contribution to early history.
The first guilds were called _______
The first guilds were called confraternities, because they were considered brotherhoods. They were formed at the beginning of the 13th century (remember that’s the 1200s)
Beginning as early as the fourth century CE, upper-class Japanese had been eager to emulate the actions and culture of which country?
China. They learned religion, writing systems, and many other things from China.
Briefly describe the structure of feudal society in Europe.
Which empire closed the pilgrimage routes that Christian pilgrims used to get to the Holy Land in the early 11th century?
The Seljuk Turks. They attacked Christian pilgrims and also attacked Christian lands held by the Byzantines in Anatolia.
What are some examples of English stories that became well known or were written during the Early Middle Ages?
The Arthurian Legends, Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales
This made it possible for people in the lower class to change their position.
After the permission of Allah, what was the main reason the Japanese were able to defeat the Mongols?
It was due more to the weather than military skill. Two typhoons struck Japan and allowed the Japanese to capture the Mongols and defeat them.
True or false: In the European Middle Ages, if you were born a serf, you could work really hard, earn more money, and become a noble.
False. If you were born a serf, you were likely to die a serf. But if you were lucky enough to be born a noble, then you had a few more options available.
False. Most historians account for a total of 8. But most of the action took place in the first 4.
During the High Middle Ages, why were people generally healthier and better fed?
During the High Middle Ages, the climate of Europe was a little warmer than usual. As a result, agriculture benefited, and people became better fed and healthier.
The last time Britain was successfully invaded from the sea was when?
in 1066, the invasion was led by William the Conqueror (formerly known as William Duke of Normandy)
Briefly describe the structure of feudal society in Japan.
From highest to lowest: emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai, peasants, artisans, and merchants.
The Middle Ages were split into three sections. What were their names?
Which battle fought between the Christian and Muslim armies marked a turning point in the Crusades? Hint: Muslims were led by Saladin in this battle.
Battle of Hattin in 1187. Muslim victory - 3 months later, Muslim armies took Jerusalem.
What series of events in the 1300s caused serious damage to European society and made the population decrease significantly?
The famines and the Black Death.
In the 1300s, a series of famines struck Europe. The famines were followed by a terrible disease called the bubonic plague, or the Black Death. This highly contagious disease struck European cities again and again during the second half of the 1300s. It killed about a fourth of Europe’s population. In fact, the population of Europe did not reach pre-plague numbers again until the 1500s.
Who was Joan of Arc?
A young French woman who played a key role in changing the Hundred Years' War from an English triumph to a French victory. After she was captured by a French traitor and sold to the English, she was burned at the stake in 1431 in France. She became a heroine, national symbol, and saint of the Catholic Church.
What were some things that were specific to feudal Japan?
Peasants owned the land that they farmed, had an emperor, only lasted 500 years
What was the main reason Charlemagne was able to achieve so many military successes?
Charlemagne’s ability to run an organized, efficient kingdom was an integral part of his many military successes. This was important, since he was almost constantly at war with barbarian tribes over territory. Charlemagne was known for his meticulous planning of military expeditions across Europe. Ultimately, Charlemagne’s careful planning and desire for unification paid off. By 814 CE, his empire stretched from the Pyrenees in the southwest, to the border with Britanny in the northwest, to Bohemia in the east
How did the Crusades affect trade in the region?
The Crusades also contributed to opening up trade in a number of ways. Christian pilgrimage routes were reopened, the use of coin currency increased, and Europeans developed an increased interest in the spice trade and East Asia.
Although the famed Silk Road had been in use for centuries, the Crusades introduced many of the spices, silks, and other products of its trade to Europe. This led to increasing interest in European merchants and monarchs in the lands to the east. Growing trade led to improvements in navigation and renewed efforts at world exploration that would one day lead Europe not only to new parts of Asia and Africa but also to the Americas.
During the Middle Ages, when it came to architecture and constructing new buildings, most of the money was put into building what?
The answer is churches. The Catholic Church and monarchs poured huge amounts of money into building massive cathedrals and basilicas—which took hundreds of years of labor by common people. These buildings would hold thousands of worshippers for generations to come. As a result, medieval churches can be found in practically every major city in Europe.
What was the Spanish Inquisition?
In 1492, Jews and Muslims who had lived more or less peacefully with Christians were forced to convert to Christianity or leave Spain. Those who did not convert or who were thought to be secretly practicing their religion were tried, tortured, and sometimes executed. This was called the Spanish Inquisition. “Inquisition” basically means “interrogation.” The idea is that people needed to be quizzed on their faith to prove they were true Christians.
They both fought wars for power and wealth, hired warriors for protection, based on a lord and vassal relationship, estates centered around castles, warfare was pretty common and prevented unification.