pre ap world history test middle ages

When, why, and where did Pope Urban II call for the first crusade?

Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade in 1095 at the Council of Clermont to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim rule and unite Christendom under a holy war.

What was the Children’s Crusade? What happened?

The Children’s Crusade (1212) was a failed movement where thousands of young Europeans marched to the Holy Land; many died or were sold into slavery.

What were some of the damaging effects of the Crusades?

The Crusades deepened religious hatred, caused widespread violence, and destabilized regions, leaving lasting tensions between Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

What knowledge did Europeans gain from their exposure to the Islamic world?

Europeans gained advances in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and recovered classical Greek texts through contact with Islamic scholars.

In what ways were the crusades contrary to Christ’s beliefs?

The Crusades promoted violence, forced conversions, and greed, contradicting Christ’s teachings of peace, love, and forgiveness.

What are notable differences between Gothic and Romanesque architecture?

Gothic architecture featured pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, while Romanesque had thick walls, rounded arches, and small windows.

What was the aim of Gothic architecture? Where did the know-how come from?

Gothic architecture aimed to inspire awe and reach toward heaven; its techniques were influenced by Islamic and Byzantine engineering.

Why was medieval Europe’s social structure so tied with the use of horses?

Horses were essential for warfare (knights), agriculture (plowing), and transportation, making them central to feudal society.

What is feudalism?

Feudalism was a hierarchical system where lords granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty.

What was the position of a serf like?

Serfs were bound to the land, required to work for their lord, and had limited freedoms, though they were not slaves.

What is a manor? Why were most manors economically self-sufficient?

A manor was a self-sufficient estate where peasants produced food and goods, minimizing reliance on trade due to poor infrastructure.

What was chivalry? What were its aims?

Chivalry was a knightly code emphasizing honor, bravery, and courtesy, aiming to moralize warfare and elite behavior.

What invention was most important in weakening European feudalism? Why?

The longbow weakened feudalism by making armored knights less dominant in battle, shifting power to common soldiers.

What was the Magna Carta? Why is it considered to be important? Who was forced to sign it?

The Magna Carta (1215) limited royal power and established legal rights; King John was forced to sign it by rebellious barons.

Where and when did the first European universities emerge? What did they teach?

The first universities (e.g., Bologna, Paris) arose in the 12th–13th centuries, teaching theology, law, medicine, and the liberal arts.

Who was Genghis Khan?

Genghis Khan unified the Mongol tribes in the early 13th century and built the largest contiguous empire through conquest.

What regions fell under Mongol control?

The Mongols ruled China, Persia, Central Asia, Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe under their vast empire.

What was the Khanate of the Golden Horde? Where and how did it rule?

The Golden Horde ruled Russia and Eastern Europe (13th–15th centuries), extracting tribute but allowing local governance.

What was the Yuan Dynasty like?

The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) was Mongol-ruled China, blending Chinese traditions with foreign administration under Kublai Khan.

Why did many Chinese eventually come to believe that the Yuan Dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven?

The Yuan lost the Mandate of Heaven due to corruption, famine, and heavy taxes, sparking rebellions like the Red Turban uprising.

What was the White Lotus movement? What was the Red Turban rebellion?

The White Lotus was a Buddhist-inspired rebellion against the Yuan, while the Red Turban Rebellion (1350s) helped overthrow Mongol rule.

What does the term pax mongolica mean?

Pax Mongolica refers to the Mongol-enforced peace that stabilized trade and cultural exchange across Eurasia (13th–14th centuries).

What was the Black Death? How did it spread? How many did it kill?

The Black Death (1347–1351) was a bubonic plague spread by fleas on rats; it killed 30–60% of Europe’s population.

Why in many places did the plague actually improve the conditions for the surviving workers?

Labor shortages after the plague increased wages and bargaining power for peasants, weakening serfdom.

What religious interpretation arose in Europe in response to the plague?

Some saw the plague as divine punishment, leading to flagellant movements, persecution of Jews, and religious extremism.

How were European Jews treated during the Crusades and the plague?

Jews were scapegoated, massacred, and expelled during both events, falsely accused of well-poisoning and other crimes.

Who was Mansa Musa? Why did he become so rich? Why did he pass through Cairo?

Mansa Musa, the 14th-century Malian ruler, was wealthy from gold; his pilgrimage to Mecca via Cairo displayed Mali’s riches.

What was the Malian Empire? What was its capital and what was this city known for?

The Malian Empire (13th–15th centuries) dominated West African trade; its capital, Timbuktu, was a center of learning and commerce.

What was the Confederation of Gbara and why is it important?

The Gbara was Mali’s deliberative assembly, ensuring governance consensus among clans and advisors.

What is the Bantu Migration?

The Bantu Migration (c. 1000 BCE–500 CE) was the gradual spread of Bantu-speaking peoples across sub-Saharan Africa.

What technologies did the Bantu people bring to Southern Africa? Why was this movement gradual?

The Bantu introduced ironworking, agriculture, and pottery; their slow migration allowed cultural integration.

What and where was the Great Zimbabwe? What are places it traded with?

Great Zimbabwe (11th–15th centuries) was a stone city in southern Africa that traded gold and ivory with Arabia and India.

Why did Zanzibar become a major trading port in East Africa?

Zanzibar thrived due to its strategic location, monsoon winds, and demand for African goods like gold and slaves.

What is a dhow?

A dhow was an Arab sailing vessel used for Indian Ocean trade.

Why did Arab and South Asian traders come to Zanzibar?

They sought spices, ivory, and slaves, linking Africa to global markets.

What does the term African diaspora mean, and how was Zanzibar a part of this?

The African diaspora refers to communities displaced by slavery; Zanzibar was a key hub in the Indian Ocean slave trade.

How did the guild system work? How was it different from modern capitalism?

Guilds regulated crafts through apprenticeships and fixed prices, unlike capitalism’s free-market competition.

Why did poor European families wish their sons to be apprenticed?

Apprenticeship offered skilled trades, economic stability, and social mobility.

Who was Joan of Arc and why is she important?

Joan of Arc (1412–1431) was a French peasant who led armies in the Hundred Years’ War before being burned as a heretic; she became a national symbol.

What was the Hundred Years’ War?

The Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) was a conflict between England and France over territorial claims, strengthening national identities.

Who was Dante Alighieri and why is he important?

Dante wrote The Divine Comedy, shaping Italian literature and blending medieval theology with humanist thought.