1. Investigating History
Name one method historians use to learn about the past.
Excavation or archival research.
Who sat at the top of the feudal hierarchy?
The King
What were the Crusades?
Religious wars between Christians and Muslims over control of the Holy Land.
What does “continuity” mean in history?
Things that stayed the same over time.
Who was the head of the Catholic Church in medieval Europe?
The Pope
What does an archaeologist look for at a dig site?
Physical remains such as bones, pottery, or buildings.
Name one duty of a medieval noble (Lord).
Manage land, provide knights, protect peasants, and advise the king.
Give one reason a European might have joined a Crusade.
Religious duty, forgiveness of sins, adventure, or desire for wealth.
Give one common crime in medieval Europe.
Theft, poaching, heresy, treason, witchcraft.
Name one way the Church influenced everyday life.
Controlled marriage, education, holidays, tithes, and moral law.
Give one type of historical source used to study the medieval period.
Letters, government records, manuscripts etc.
What was the main job of peasants or serfs?
Farming the land and providing food.
Name one effect of the Crusades on Europe.
Increased trade, new ideas, improved navigation and mapping.
Name one common form of punishment used to deter others from doing the same crime
Execution, public humiliation (stocks, pillory).
What is an indulgence?
A payment or action to reduce punishment for sins.
Why is recording the exact location of an artefact important?
Context and location help date and interpret the object accurately.
How did the relationship between a lord and a vassal/knight work in the feudal system?
The lord granted land (a fief) to the vassal/knight in exchange for loyalty and military service.
Describe one key feature of Gothic cathedral architecture in medieval Europe.
Pointed arches, flying buttresses, tall spires, or large stained-glass windows that allowed more light and height.
Describe one way punishments began to change over time.
Decline of trial by ordeal, increased use of fines and early prisons.
Who was Martin Luther and what did he challenge?
A German monk who criticised the sale of indulgences and began the Reformation.
What is one limitation of archaeological evidence?
Evidence can be incomplete, damaged, or open to different interpretations.
Explain how the feudal system helped the king keep control of his kingdom.
The king granted land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service, creating a network of obligations that kept society organised and under royal authority.
How did the Crusades change relations between Islam and the West?
Created long-term tension but also allowed exchange of goods and knowledge.
Explain how trial by ordeal worked and why it eventually declined.
Accused faced a dangerous test (e.g., holding hot iron for 3 metres) believed to reveal God’s judgment; replaced by evidence-based courts.
What was William the Conqueror’s major achievement in 1066?
Won the Battle of Hastings and introduced feudalism to England.