Guided+Reading+Questions+for+Medieval+Period

8-9 year old went to live in knights household as a page; boy performed chores, trained in horsemanship and sword fighting ; taught music and manners and poetry; at 15 or 16 he became a squire and accompanied knight into battle; at 20 if worthy, he was knighted 14. Who were vassals? Military officers of a land owner who were paid with land 15. What is a fief? Piece of land that was payment to a vassal of the landowner 16.What is feudalism? Vassals pledge loyalty to landowner in return for land and payment of a yearly tax 17. Who were the serfs? Poor farmers who moved onto manor lands; in exchange for labor they would be protected by the landowners. Over time they would become bound to the land and could not move away 18. Why do you think the manor became the center of Medieval life? It was a self contained village with its own economic and political base, it included food production, a continuous supply of labor, protection for the manor’s inhabitant and feudal obligations to all 19. Describe some of the innovations which changed life for people: Innovations: crop rotation: more food was produced and fewer people were needed to farm; Horseshoeing, harness; horses used for plowing which saved time; Windmill and watermill: energy produced, grain ground, furnaces powered to make tools 20. What was the affect on feudal life these innovations brought about? People began moving away from the countryside and into towns which became growing centers of trade. 21. What opportunities developed in cities? Freed serfs hoped to find ways to make a living; new opportunities for women to own businesses; 22. Why were guilds formed? To prevent unfair competition among merchants and craftspeople, make sure prices are fair, settle disputes and set quality standards 23. What was the middle class in medieval Europe? People who ranked between nobles and serfs in society; they gained their wealth from work rather than being born rich 24. Create a chart to compare The Christian Church with the government: Church: Pope, Church officials, Church laws, Courts, tithe Government: King or president, government officials, laws, legislative system, courts, judicial system, taxes 25.What was the purpose of a Cathedral? House of worship, reflection of the Church’s power and influence, entire towns could attend at the same time, monument to God, 26. Describe roles of people in the church: nuns: women who spent lives in prayer or cared for the sick and hungry; monks: spent time in prayer or preserving books and religious manuscripts, copied books by hand 27. What is monarchy? Government headed by a king or queen. 28. What is the Magna Carta? Document signed by King John of England in 1215 which limited his power by giving rights to the nobles
 * 1) What happened to Europe After the fall of the Roman Empire? Western Europe broke into many small, self governing groups
 * 2) Why were stone castles built? As defense against surprise attacks from enemy kingdoms and foreign invaders; homes for nobles
 * 3) Describe a castle; stone walls and tiny windows made castles dark, damp and drafty, best form of protection against world disorder
 * 4) When and how did the final collapse of the Roman Empire? 476 AD, warring bands invaded western
 * 5) What were the middle ages? 1000 years of warfare and bloodshed between the end of the Roman empire and the beginning of Modern times
 * 6) Who was Charlemagne? French king who was able to bring order to Europe for a brief period between 768 and 814 AD
 * 7) How did Charlemagne establish order? He improved education, strengthened the government and enforced laws, he supported the Christian church
 * 8) Where did Charlemagne’s empire exist? France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Italy
 * 9) How did Charlemagne’s empire end? Through internal rebellions and external invasions his heirs divided the empire into smaller, quarreling kingdoms fighting over land, resources and control of the people who worked the land.
 * 10) Why did the role of Knights evolve? To meet the challenge of constant warfare landowners developed into warriors with a lifetime of duty to their lords, or superiors
 * 11) What were the roles of the knight? Police officer: bringing criminals to justice and preserving peace, solder to defend Lord’s castle
 * 12) What was chivalry? Strict code of honor requiring loyalty and justice, protection of the innocent, mercy to enemies and live according to teachings of Christian church
 * 13) Describe how a boy would prepare for knighthood;

Europeans learned about the discoveries of the Muslims, New markets for spices, textile s and jewelry exotic fruits like oranges Spread of awareness of different cultures || Used great numbers of horsemen giving them greater speed and mobility || Pneumonic plague cased when an infected person coughed || The plague spread because of increased contact 25 million died in Europe alone Labor shortages grew Wages rose Standards for living rose End of the serf system ||
 * 1. During the Middle ages, why was Jerusalem considered the center of the world? || Jerusalem was important not only to Christians as the place where Jesus taught and died but is also important to Jews and Muslims ||
 * 2. What did Pope Urban urge people to do in 1095? || Pope Urban wanted people to take back Jerusalem from the Muslims ||
 * 3. Who controlled the Middle East at the time of Pope Urban? || The Muslims had spread their religion and culture all around Jerusalem ||
 * 4. What two political reasons were given for taking back Jerusalem? || Making visits to Jerusalem safe and reuniting the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox church in Constantinople ||
 * 5. What is a crusade? || A religious war ||
 * 6. When did the first crusade begin? || 1096 AD ||
 * 7. How far was France from Jerusalem? || About 3000 miles ||
 * 8. Based on the mp on page 297, Which country benefited in the growth of trade after the Crusade? || Italy because the Crusaders frequently traveled through the country on the way to and from the Crusade ||
 * 9.Why were the walls fo jeruslame easy to break down? || The walls were very old ||
 * 10. How did the Muslims delay the Crusaders || They poisoned the wells, ||
 * 11. What Happened in july of 1099 || Jerusalem fell to the Crusaders ||
 * 12. How long did the era of crusades last? || About 200 years ||
 * 13. What were the results of the Crusades? || Long lasting hatred between the Muslims and Europeans,
 * 14. Who were the Mongols? || Nomadic tribes people who tended their herds on the plains of Asia since at least 300 BC ||
 * 15. Who was Genghis Khan? || United the wandering Mongol tribes in 1206 AD ||
 * 16. What is Eurasia? || The great land mass of Europe and Asia ||
 * 17. How large was the Mongol empire? || It stretched from the Danube river in Europe to the Pacific ocean ||
 * 18. Why were the Mongols so successful in conquering much of Asia and Europe? || Fierce fighters who showed no mercy,
 * 19. Why were the Mongols such great horsemen? || They learned to ride early and trained as warriors very early ||
 * 20. Why did the Mongols never conquer India? || Concentrated on Europe and geographic barriers of Ida may have prevented them form penetrating the subcontinent ||
 * 21. Who took over the Mongols after the death of Genghis Khan? || His son Ogdai ||
 * 22. Who was Kublai khan? || Grandson of Genghis khan ||
 * 23. Why did the Mongol empire become much more open to trade? || Much of Asia was now under rule of one people, ideas and goods made their way from China to Europe and Africa more easily ||
 * 24. Who was Marco Polo? || A young Italian traveler who traveled by caravan to China with his father and uncle. He wrote a famous book about his adventure ||
 * 25. Why did the Mongol empire decline? || Family feuding and difficulty ruling such a large empire ||
 * 26. What was the black death? || Horrifying disease which swept across Asia, Europe and North Africa ||
 * 27. What is a plague? || A diseases striking across a large area ||
 * 28. How did the plague spread || Fleas carrying the plague attach to rats which were carried by caravans and ships ||
 * 29. What are two forms of the black death? || Bubonic plague caused by flea bites carrying the disease
 * 30. How did the Black death lead to economic changes in Europe? || Trade routes developed between Asia, Africa dn Europe