Medieval History Review

Flashcards for reviewing key concepts in Medieval History

What were the three main obligations of a serf in the feudal system?

Work the land, pay rent/taxes, obey the lord

Who had the power to grant fiefs to nobles?

The king

What role did knights play in the feudal hierarchy?

Provided military service to nobles in exchange for land

What was the main cause of the Investiture Controversy?

Dispute over who could appoint bishops—pope or king

What battle stopped the Muslim advance into Western Europe in 732?

Battle of Tours

What caused the Great Schism of 1378?

Two popes claimed authority, causing a split in Church leadership

What was the main goal of the Crusades?

To reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control

Who called for the First Crusade?

Pope Urban II

How did the Great Schism affect the authority of the Church?

It weakened the Church's authority and unity

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj

How did Muslim scholars preserve and expand knowledge?

By translating and building on Greek and Roman texts in places like Baghdad

What caused the Sunni-Shia split?

Disagreement over rightful successor to Muhammad

What was the Magna Carta and why was it important?

A document that limited the king's power and protected nobles’ rights

What body of government developed from the Great Council?

Parliament

What was Habeas Corpus originally intended to protect?

Protection from unlawful imprisonment

What is Gothic architecture known for?

Pointed arches, flying buttresses, large stained-glass windows

What is scholasticism?

A method of learning that used reason and faith to understand religion

What were gargoyles used for in cathedrals?

Water spouts and to ward off evil spirits

Explain how Magna Carta and Parliament contributed to modern democracy.

They limited royal power and established representative governance

What was a vassal’s obligation to their lord?

Military service and loyalty

Why was the manor the center of medieval economic life?

It was self-sufficient and provided everything the community needed

What caused the Black Death to spread so rapidly?

Increased trade and poor sanitation

What were the effects of the Hundred Years’ War on Europe?

Rise of national identities and weakened feudalism

What was Thomas Aquinas known for?

Blending Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy

How did the Church influence education during the Middle Ages?

Monasteries and cathedral schools preserved learning

What is the significance of Mecca in Islam?

Birthplace of Muhammad and location of the Kaaba

What is Sharia law based on?

The Qur’an and Hadith

What was the Domesday Book?

A record of land and property for taxation in England

What role did the Great Council play in English governance?

Advised the king and evolved into Parliament

Who was Dante and what did he write?

Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy

What was a flying buttress used for?

Support for tall cathedral walls allowing larger windows

Describe one similarity and one difference between knights and samurai.

Both followed a warrior code, but samurai emphasized loyalty to daimyo while knights to lords and the Church