DBQ On Medieval Europe And Japan

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What time period does the Medieval Era cover?

c. 500-1500

What is another name for the Medieval Era?

Age of Faith

What are the three periods of the Middle Ages?

Early Middle Ages (Dark Ages), High Middle Ages, Late Middle Ages

What event marked the beginning of the Dark Ages?

The fall of Western Rome in 476 CE

What characterized the Dark Ages in Western Europe?

Decline of civilization, scarcity of written records and trade

What were the Germanic tribes known for during the Dark Ages?

Nomadic movement, colorful oral traditions, illiteracy, polytheistic religion

What was the 'comitatus' in Germanic culture?

A warrior band that promoted loyalty and bravery

Who were the first Germanic tribes to settle in Great Britain?

The Angles and Saxons

What significant battle did the Franks fight in 732 CE?

The Battle of Tours against the Muslim Moors

Who was the first major Germanic king to convert to Christianity?

King Clovis of the Franks

What role did the Roman Catholic Church play during the Middle Ages?

It served as a unifying force and influenced all aspects of life

What is the hierarchy of the clergy in the Catholic Church?

Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests

Who was Pope Gregory I and what was his contribution?

He developed the Roman Catholic Church as a secular power and helped expand Christianity

What was the significance of the Carolingian Dynasty?

It began with Pepin the Short and included Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman Emperor

What was the primary religion of the Germanic tribes before conversion?

Polytheism, worshipping gods like Wotan (Odin)

What was the role of the clergy during the Medieval Era?

To oversee religious ceremonies and deliver teachings

What was the impact of literacy on Germanic tribes?

Illiteracy led to a decline in learning and cultural development

What was the significance of trial by ordeal in Germanic culture?

It was a method to appeal to divine judgment

What did the term 'wergild' refer to in Germanic society?

A value placed on a man to pay 'blood money' and avoid bloodshed

What was the role of the Church in politics during the Medieval Era?

It influenced political decisions and served as a stabilizing force

What was the outcome of the Battle of Tours?

It stopped the spread of Islam into Europe at that time

Who commissioned St. Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons?

Pope Gregory I

Where did the Magyars originate from?

Ural Mountains in NW Russia

What was a major cultural contribution of the Germanic tribes?

Oral traditions, including songs and epic tales like Beowulf

What role did monasteries play during Europe's Dark Ages?

They preserved Christian faith and classical Greco-Roman heritage.

What were monasteries composed of?

Communities of faith made up of men (monks) and women (nuns).

What activities did monasteries promote?

Education, maintaining libraries, and copying important texts.

What is the significance of the phrase 'islands of light in a sea of darkness'?

It describes the role of monasteries in preserving knowledge during the Dark Ages.

Who founded the Benedictine Order?

St. Benedict of Nursia.

What are the three vows taken by Benedictine monks?

Poverty, chastity, and obedience.

What is the motto of the Benedictine Order?

'Pax, ora, et labora' - peace, prayer, and work.

What was Charlemagne's goal as a ruler?

To unite all of the Germanic tribes under his rule.

When did Charlemagne become Holy Roman Emperor?

On Christmas Day, 800 C.E.

What significant cultural revival occurred during Charlemagne's reign?

The Carolingian Renaissance.

How did Charlemagne use violence in his reign?

He used it to convert people to Christianity, such as slaughtering a village of 5,000 Saxons.

What was the relationship between Charlemagne and the Catholic Church?

Charlemagne supported the Church with money, land, and resources.

What did Pope Leo III do for Charlemagne?

Crowned him Holy Roman Emperor on December 25, 800 CE.

What was one outcome of Charlemagne's coronation?

Greater security within the Church and emphasis on education and scholarship.

What happened after Charlemagne's death in 814?

His son Louis the Pious took over the empire.

What led to the Treaty of Verdun in 843?

A civil war among Louis the Pious's sons over the legitimacy of the emperor's title.

What was the result of the Treaty of Verdun?

Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire was split into three sections for each of his sons.

What time period did Western Christendom struggle for survival?

Between 850 and 1000.

Which groups invaded Western Christendom during its struggle for survival?

Pagan Vikings, Muslim Arabs, and the Magyars.

By what year had most Vikings converted to Christianity?

By 1050.

What two systems developed that shaped medieval society during the High Middle Ages?

Feudalism and Manorialism.

What is feudalism?

A political-military system of landholding and governing based on the exchange of land for services.

What type of government system does feudalism create?

A decentralized government system of isolated estates.

What was manorialism?

The social-economic system of feudalism based on manor estates.

How did peasants contribute to the manorial system?

They provided labor for the Lord in exchange for protection and food security.

What happened to peasants under manorialism?

They became serfs with limited rights that restricted their movements.

What was the role of the King in the feudal system?

The King was the owner of all land in the kingdom.

What is a vassal in the context of feudalism?

A knight who swore loyalty to a lord in exchange for land.

What is a fief?

A piece of land granted to a vassal by a lord.

How far did serfs typically travel from their manor in their lifetimes?

Rarely more than 25 miles.

What was the demesne in a manor?

The area of land reserved for the lord's family.

What were some products produced on the manor?

Food, clothing, fuel, lumber, and leather goods.

What innovations increased agricultural production by the 11th century?

The three-field system, horse-drawn plow, and water mills.

What is the significance of the three-field system?

It improved agricultural efficiency and production.

What was the typical population of a manor village?

Usually 15-30 families.

What was the relationship between lords and vassals?

Lords granted land to vassals in exchange for protection.

What was the status of serfs compared to slaves?

Serfs could not be bought or sold like slaves but had limited rights.

What was the primary economic activity on a manor?

Agriculture, with self-sufficient production for the manor's needs.

What is Japan's geographical relationship to China?

Japan is only 500 miles away from China.

How many islands make up Japan?

Japan is made up of approximately 4,000 islands.

What percentage of Japan's land is farmable?

Only 15% of Japan's land is farmable.

What natural disasters does Japan frequently experience?

Japan experiences typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

What does 'Shinto' mean?

Shinto means 'Way of the Gods.'

What are 'kami' in Shinto belief?

Kami are divine spirits that dwell in nature.

How does Shintoism coexist with Buddhism in Japan?

Shintoism is practiced as a way of life and can coexist with other types of worship, like Buddhism.

What is a 'Torii'?

A Torii is a traditional Japanese gate found at the entryway into a Shinto shrine.

When was Buddhism introduced to Japan?

Buddhism was introduced to Japan around 525 C.E.

What is Mahayana Buddhism known for?

Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes role models of bodhisattvas who return to teach humans.

What political system did Japan adopt from China?

Japan adopted imperial rule similar to the Chinese Zhou Dynasty.

Who created Japan's first constitution?

Prince Shotoku of the Yamato clan created Japan's first constitution in 604.

What title was given to Yoritomo Minamoto in 1192?

Yoritomo Minamoto was named the first shogun (military dictator) by the emperor.

What code did the Samurai live by?

The Samurai lived according to the Bushido, a code of behavior for warriors.

What is the significance of the term 'daimyo'?

Daimyo refers to powerful landowning families that controlled territories in Japan.

What was the primary difference between European and Japanese feudalism?

European feudalism was based on Christianity, while Japanese feudalism was based on Buddhism and Shintoism.

What was the first Chinese dynasty to leave written records?

The Shang Dynasty (1532-1027 B.C.E.) was the first to leave written records.

What significant concept did the Zhou Dynasty claim?

The Zhou Dynasty claimed the Mandate of Heaven.

What was the primary philosophy during the Han Dynasty?

Confucianism dominated during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E. - C.E. 220).

What was the Golden Age of Chinese arts and culture associated with?

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) is associated with the Golden Age of Chinese arts and culture.

What innovation did the Song Dynasty introduce?

The Song Dynasty introduced the world's first government-issued money.

Who was Kublai Khan?

Kublai Khan was a Mongol ruler during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368 C.E.) who welcomed foreign contacts.

What was Admiral Zheng He's contribution during the Ming Dynasty?

Admiral Zheng He led sea voyages that explored as far as East Africa for trade.

What agricultural advancement occurred during the Song Dynasty?

The rise of rice cultivation in southern regions was encouraged during the Song Dynasty.

What was the significance of the invention of paper in China?

Paper was invented by the second century and spread to Europe by 1100.

What were the Crusades?

A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims during the Middle Ages (11th - 13th centuries).

What city was the focal point of the Crusades?

Jerusalem, part of the Islamic Empire and known as the Holy Land.

Who called for the First Crusade?

Pope Urban II in 1095.

What was the outcome of the First Crusade?

Victory for the Christians from 1096-1099, resulting in the division of the Holy Land into four Crusader states.

Name the four Crusader states established after the First Crusade.

Kingdom of Jerusalem, County of Edessa, Principality of Antioch, County of Tripoli.

What triggered the Second Crusade?

The Muslim conquest of Edessa in 1145.

Who led the Second Crusade?

European kings, including Louis VII of France and Conrad III of Germany.

What was the result of the Second Crusade?

Defeat for the Christians in 1149.

Who were the main leaders of the Third Crusade?

Richard the Lionhearted of England and Saladin of the Muslim forces.

What was the outcome of the Third Crusade?

Crusaders briefly recaptured Jerusalem but ultimately lost control to Saladin.

What significant event occurred during the Fourth Crusade?

The crusading army raided Constantinople, weakening the Byzantine Empire.

What was the Children's Crusade?

A movement started by children in 1211 to march to the Holy Land, which ended in tragedy.

What was the ultimate control of Jerusalem after the Crusades?

Jerusalem remained under the control of the Islamic Empire.