2nd Semester Hon Western Civ Exam Review Guide

Edict of Milan

Legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Constantine's motives for issuing the Edict of Milan

1. Gratitude for victory at the Milvian Bridge 2. Influence of his Christian mother 3. Gain Christian support across the Empire.

Arian belief regarding Jesus

The belief that Jesus is not God.

Purpose of creeds

1. To be memorized and recited 2. Teach council decisions 3. Unite church beliefs 4. Combat heresy.

Doctrine clarified in Nicene Creed

Trinity.

Positive outcomes of Christianity as state religion

1. Laws based on Christian morals 2. Sunday as a day of rest 3. Gladiator games ended 4. Church protection under its own courts.

Negative outcomes of Christianity as state religion

1. Corruption and hypocrisy 2. Sunday rest enforced 3. Paganization of the church with new converts.

Ambrose's concept of church and state relations

Church is preeminent as it controls salvation.

Petrine Theory

1. Peter received authority over the Church (Matthew 16:18) 2. Peter became the first bishop of Rome 3. Successive popes claim his authority.

Ways Gregory the Great increased papal authority

1. Authored 'Pastoral Care' 2. Settled disputes 3. Sent missionaries to Canterbury.

Roots of European medieval culture

1. Christianity 2. Germanic culture 3. Classical (Greek-Roman) culture.

Factors for successful conversion of Germans to Christianity

1. Convert the chieftain first 2. Focus on education and encouragement 3. Assimilation and accommodation.

Outcome of Northumbrian Synod of Whitby

Christianity in England aligned with Roman Catholicism not Celtic.

Changing social attitudes of the Church

1. Women seen as inferior 2. Marriage viewed as necessary for procreation 3. Hostility toward homosexuality increases 4. Greco-Roman culture encouraged.

Ideas expressed by St. Augustine

1. Sin nature makes man dependent on God's grace 2. Church includes both believers and unbelievers 3. Sacrament validity not dependent on the administering priest 4. State is necessary for peace.

Reasons for emergence of monasticism

1. Inspiration from hermits 2. Need for reform 3. Response to corruption in the Church 4. Asceticism to focus on God.

Problems with eremitical monasticism

1. Isolation dangers 2. Hermits become celebrities 3. Competitive nature arises.

Success of the Rule of St. Benedict

1. Flexibility and adaptability 2. Balance between asceticism and activity 3. Economic independence 4. Simple structure.

Reasons for German migrations

1. Searching for loot 2. Employment opportunities 3. Refugees from wars.

Characteristics of German culture and life

1. Polygamy 2. Women as property and hard workers 3. Compensation as punishment 4. Social status based on cattle ownership.

Importance of Arthurian legend

Demonstrates Celtic resentment toward Anglo-Saxon invaders.

Factors separating Christianity into Eastern and Western branches

1. Leadership disputes (Pope vs. Patriarch) 2. Differences in church-state relations 3. Capital moved east 4. Language differences.

Byzantine achievements

1. Preservation of Greco-Roman learning 2. Codification of Roman law 3. Christianization of Balkan and Russian Slavs.

Muhammad's vision

Received message claiming he is Allah's messenger.

Reason for Muhammad's hegira from Mecca

Chased out by merchants fearing loss of pilgrims.

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Declaration of faith 2. Almsgiving 3. Pilgrimage to Mecca 4. Fasting during Ramadan 5. Daily prayer.

Issues causing the split in Islam during the 7th century

Disputes over leadership post-Muhammad's death.

Areas conquered by Islam

1. Spain 2. India 3. North Africa 4. Persia.

Main reason for instability in Merovingian period

No clear principle of succession.

Methods of Merovingians for administration

1. Dukes 2. Counts 3. Capitularies 4. Mayor of the palace.

Revenue methods used by Merovingians

1. Land tax 2. Right of hospitality 3. Fines 4. Coin minting.

Reasons for rise of Carolingian dynasty

1. Alliance with Papacy 2. Marriage alliances expand territory 3. Military successes of Charles Martel.

Impact of Donation of Pippin

Popes became secular rulers alongside spiritual leaders.

Factors leading to Charlemagne's empire creation

1. Intelligence and charisma 2. Expanded through marriage and campaigns.

Significance of Charlemagne's coronation by the Pope

Revived the concept of a Roman Empire in the West and led to papal claims over states.

Charlemagne's concept of kingship

A military leader who enforces law for eternal benefit.

Achievements of the Carolingian Renaissance

1. Education of clergy 2. Development of minuscule script 3. Improved understanding of Christian texts.

Main reasons for the decline of Charlemagne's Empire

1. Ethnic diversity 2. Noble independence desires 3. Viking raids.

Results of Treaty of Verdun in 843

1. Division of empire into three kingdoms 2. Ended civil wars among grandsons.

Main reason for the development of serfdom

Protection from attacks for peasants.

Groups that invaded Europe in the 9th century

1. Vikings 2. Magyars 3. Muslims.

Reasons for Viking invasions

1. Loot 2. Crop failures 3. Overpopulation.

Roots of Kievan culture

1. Slavs 2. Vikings 3. Orthodoxy.

Characteristics of the modern state

1. Facilitate commerce 2. Definite geography 3. Legal frameworks 4. Citizen loyalty.

Necessary elements for modern state establishment by medieval rulers

1. Communication network 2. Control over nobility 3. Regular tax revenues 4. Professional military.

Achievements of Alfred the Great

1. Defeated Vikings 2. Unified Anglo-Saxon rule 3. Established the first navy 4. Made local rulers accountable.

Hugh Capet's achievement

Established hereditary succession of the French monarchy.

Ways Otto I strengthened centralized rule in Germany

1. Reduced nobility independence 2. Practiced lay investiture 3. Eliminated mayor threats.

Methods William the Conqueror used for centralized rule in England

1. Replaced Anglo-Saxon nobles with Normans 2. Used vernacular writs 3. Created mandatory oaths of loyalty.

Purpose of the Domesday Book

To better control tax revenues in England.

Limits on Capetian kings' revenue raising

Could only tax to support 'just' wars.

Ways Louis IX strengthened French monarchy

1. Judges sent to verify justice in localities 2. Established Parliament of Paris 3. Focused on justice for common people.

Reasons Henry II lost conflict with the Church

1. Becket's promotion of the benefit of clergy 2. Becket's murder by Henry's knights 3. Becket's martyrdom aided the Church.

Why Richard the Lionhearted was viewed negatively

1. Left England indebted for ransom 2. Spent little time in England 3. Wasted funds on Crusades.

Reason John signed the Magna Carta

Forced to uphold traditional rights of nobility.

Principles found in Magna Carta

1. Right to due process 2. Right to force king to obey laws 3. Taxation with representation.

Problems of the papacy by 11th century

1. Elections controlled by aristocracy 2. Papal position exploited for gain 3. Multiple claimants to papacy 4. Unqualified popes.

How popes gained office after Lateran Synod (1059)

Elected by a college of cardinals.

Why Pope Gregory VII opposed lay investiture

It weakened papal ability to control and reform the Church.

Why kings desired lay investiture

Provided educated administrators and revenue streams.

Outcome of the Investiture Controversy

Church appoints clergy but kings can veto.

Who benefited from the Investiture Struggle

Nobles, as kings' powers were weakened.

How papal curia strengthened the papacy

1. Specialized organization 2. Educated bureaucracy 3. Justice for those dissatisfied with secular courts.

Main purpose of chivalry

To cultivate Christian behavior among knights.

Duties of vassal knights

1. 40 days military service 2. Guard duty 3. Attend lord's family events.

Problems with young knights

1. Troublemaking in groups 2. Marital status restricted by inheritance 3. Tensions with fathers.

Ways kings addressed troublesome nobles

1. Allied with middle class 2. Church promoted loyalty to government 3. Encouraged crusades.

Monasticism's service to nobility

Provided peaceful careers and administration.

Motives for becoming monks

1. Fear of hell 2. Disgust with the world 3. Desire for education.

Head of a convent

Abbess.

What is a choir monk?

An aristocratic monk.

Services provided by monasteries

1. Schools 2. Hospitals 3. Inns.

What was the Truce of God?

Church's effort to limit fighting days.

Reasons for decline of monasticism in the 9th century

1. Military service obligations 2. Viking and Magyar threats 3. Secular lord influence.

Reasons for the success of Cluny monastery

1. Free from feudal obligations 2. Accountability to Pope 3. Capable abbots.

Reforms advocated by Cluny

1. End of simony 2. Clerical celibacy 3. Strict asceticism.

Steps introduced by Cistercians

1. Acceptance of distant lands 2. Simple routines 3. Avoidance of powerful laymen.

Poverty movement participants

1. Franciscans 2. Poor Clares 3. Waldensians 4. Albigensians.

Reasons for papacy launching the Crusades

1. Pilgrim complaints 2. Redirecting knightly aggression 3. Reuniting East and West Churches.

Motives of crusaders

1. Criminals could gain freedom 2. Wealth 3. Adventure 4. Direct entrance to Heaven if killed.

Achievement of the First Crusade

Establishment of four Crusader States.

Achievement of the Third Crusade

Truce allowing pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Achievement of Fourth Crusade

Sack of Constantinople by Crusaders.

Long-term impact of the Crusades

1. Weakening of Byzantine Empire 2. Opening of trade with the East 3. Increased East/West tension.

What was the Reconquista?

The effort to drive Muslims from Spain.

Reasons for Europe’s recovery, 10th to 12th centuries

1. Better climate for agriculture 2. Mechanization increases productivity 3. Viking assimilation.

Duties/obligations of serfs

1. Pay fees and taxes to the lord 2. Marriage approval needed 3. Work for the lord 4. Fees for services.

How serfs gained freedom

1. Manumission 2. Live in a privileged town for a year 3. Freedom granted by lord.

What is the demesne?

Land of the lord cultivated by serfs.

Techniques creating agricultural productivity

1. Crop rotation 2. Fertilizers 3. Horse collar 4. Iron tools.

Foods in a peasant diet

1. Bread 2. Turnips 3. Pottage 4. Cabbage 5. Ale.

Reason for cesarean births

To baptize a baby before its death with a deceased mother.

Ways religion incorporated into daily life

1. Calendar revolved around holy days 2. Church as town center 3. Priest as educated figure.

Characteristics of the cult of saints

1. Saints relate to human problems 2. Patron saints for places/professions 3. Profitable pilgrimage and relic trade.

The seven sacraments

1. Baptism 2. Penance 3. Eucharist 4. Confirmation 5. Extreme Unction.

Ways to lessen purgatory

1. Prayers 2. Indulgences 3. Pilgrimages 4. Crusades.

Reasons for oblation

1. Atone for parents' sins 2. Good career for younger son 3. Ongoing family intercessor.

Reasons for anti-Semitism

1. Resentment over interest payments 2. Anger over exemptions from usury 3. Xenophobia.

Locations for medieval towns

1. Pilgrimage sites 2. River crossings 3. Crossroads 4. Fortified areas.

Functions of guilds

1. Set quality standards 2. Support deceased members' families 3. Meet social needs 4. Provide education.