October 2021

Question 1

What nickname describes the geography of the continent of Europe?

Answer 1

A Peninsula of Peninsulas

Question 2

What series of events caused instability in Europe starting in the 4th century CE?

Answer 2

Barbarian Invasions - tribal groups pushed west and south from central Asia by the Huns

Question 3

What did Clovis, King of the Franks, do that helped him control his kingdom?

Answer 3

He converted to Christianity which gave him political backing by the church

Question 4

Who was Charlemagne and what did he do?

Answer 4

Charles the Great, grandson of “Hammer”, expanded the Frankish Kingdom into an empire

Question 5

What happened on Christmas Day, the year 800?

Answer 5

Pope Leo ||| crowned Charlemagne “Holy Roman Emperor”

Question 6

What caused Western Europe to fall apart after the death of Charlemagne?

Answer 6

His 3 grandsons split the empire and fought each other, then the viking raids began

Question 7

What way-cool things enabled the Vikings to terrorize Europe?

Answer 7

Europe’s Geography of many navigable rivers & well designed viking ships

Question 8

How far East did their influence expand? How far West?

Answer 8

East to Kiev (Ukraine), West to North America

Question 9

What system localized power and protection arose from these uncertain times?

Answer 9

Feudalism!!!!

Question 10

What brought the feudal system to England?

Answer 10

William the Bastard, later William the Conqueror, after the Battle of Hastings

Question 11

What prompted the conquest of William, Duke of Normandy?

Answer 11

He had been promised the English throne by his cousin, Edward the Confessor, and was then double-crossed

Question 12

When was the Battle of Hastings and what celestial visitor marked it?

Answer 12

In October, 1066, marked by Halley’s Comet?

Question 13

What famous record do we have of the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 13

The Bayeux Tapestry

Question 14

What were the results of the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 14

• England was united under centralized control
• French entered the language/culture
• Feudalism established in England
• The Motte and Bailey Castle became the standard
• Set off conflict between England and France for 800 years

Question 15

What made the feudal system stable?

Answer 15

Everyone had a place as a lord or a vassal and peasants produced food in exchange for safety

Question 16

What did the term “knight” mean?

Answer 16

A warrior on horseback

Question 17

What were “serfs”?

Answer 17

Peasants who were “tied” to the land and were not free to leave their lord’s manor

Question 18

On what was the feudal system based on and how was it expressed?

Answer 18

Based on loyalty (lord/vassal)

Expressed: code of chivalry

Question 19

What was the basis for political alliances in the middle ages?

Answer 19

Families tied by arranged marriages and exchanges of fiefs for military support

Question 20

What was a motte and bailey castle?

Answer 20

An early defensive structure

Question 21

What were the features of a motte and bailey castle?

Answer 21

Bailey: fenced village surrounded by a moat
Motte: built up mound with a “keep”

Question 22

How did the castles change over the centuries?

Answer 22

The concept stayed the same but they were made of stone

Question 23

What was the economic system of Medieval Europe?

Answer 23

Manorialism, based on local self-sufficiency and centered around a lord’s manor

Question 24

How did the Roman Empire continue to exist after it fell in the West?

Answer 24

In the structure of the church

Question 25

How was Europe Christianized?

Answer 25

Missionaries converted some people by keeping their traditions and political leaders forced the others

Question 26

Who set up the “rules” for monasteries?

Answer 26

Benedict - A hermit who couldn’t get away from other monks

Question 27

How did the Church influence the lives of people of Western Europe in Medieval Times?

Answer 27

By performing the sacraments

required steps of salvation throughout their lives

Question 28

What distinguishes a cathedral from a regular church?

Answer 28

It’s the “seat” of a bishop

Question 29

What were three architectural features of a Gothic cathedral?

Answer 29

Vaulting from pointed arches
Huge stained glass windows
Buttresses to support exterior walls

Question 30

What was the basis of the conflict between Henry IV of Germany and Pope Gregory VII

Answer 30

Power over who could appoint bishops

Question 31

How did pilgrimages reflect the age of faith?

Answer 31

Travels to special places showed devotion

Question 32

What are holidays?

Answer 32

“Holy Days”

Question 33

With the revival of classic learning, what conflict did Thomas Aquinas try to solve?

Answer 33

Whether natural law can fit with gods law