Medieval Europe and Japan Master Doc

Link to Master Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g1ZD5Xd0wG7sCa2OvhCF__RfLt1tZtAaJBQP8vMd05I/edit?tab=t.j6b340o33o86#heading=h.viowttz9zpn6

What is another name for the Medieval era?

Age of Faith, due to the dominance of Christianity and Islam.

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 Early Dark Ages?

The fall of Western Rome in 476 CE.

What characterized the Early Dark Ages in Western Europe?

Decline of civilization, scarcity of written records and trade.

What were the Germanic tribes known for?

Nomadic movement, colorful oral traditions, illiteracy, and polytheistic religion.

Who was Wotan in Germanic culture?

The chief war god, also known as Odin by the Norse.

What was the 'comitatus' in Germanic tribes?

A warrior culture that promoted loyalty and bravery among warriors.

What was the purpose of Wergild in Germanic society?

To pay blood money to avoid ongoing bloodshed.

Who were the Vikings?

Scandinavian invaders who settled in areas like modern-day Russia, Iceland, and Greenland.

Who is believed to be the first European to encounter native North Americans?

Lief Erikson around 1000 CE.

What was the significance of the Battle of Tours in 732 CE?

It stopped the spread of Islam into Europe at that time.

Who were the Franks?

A Germanic people who settled in northern France, Belgium, and western Germany.

What was the role of the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages?

A dominant force influencing all aspects of life and serving as a unifying force.

Who was Pope Gregory I?

A pontiff who helped develop the Roman Catholic Church into a secular power.

What was the role of monasteries during the Dark Ages?

They preserved Christian faith and classical Greco-Roman heritage.

What did the Benedictine Order emphasize?

A life of 'pax, ora, et labora' (peace, prayer, and work).

What vows did Benedictine monks take?

Poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Who was Charlemagne?

The first Holy Roman Emperor crowned by Pope Leo III in 800 CE.

What was the significance of Charlemagne's reign?

He aimed to unite all Germanic peoples under Christianity.

What was the impact of the fall of the Western Roman Empire on learning?

It led to a significant decline in learning and trade during the Dark Ages.

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

Polytheistic religion.

What was the role of clergy in the Medieval Church?

They oversaw religious ceremonies and teachings, forming a hierarchy from priests to the Pope.

What was the role of the Pope in the Medieval Church?

Head of the Church and a key figure in political and religious matters.

What did the Magyars contribute to Medieval Europe?

They migrated to modern-day Hungary and converted to Christianity.

What was the significance of the Franks' conversion to Christianity?

They were the first Germanic people to convert, influencing the spread of Christianity in Europe.

What was the primary reason for Viking exploration and invasion?

A lack of arable land in Scandinavia.

What was the cultural impact of the Angles and Saxons in Great Britain?

They contributed to the formation of the English language and culture.

What was the relationship between the Church and Germanic tribes?

The Church initially faced threats but gained influence as tribes converted to Christianity.

Who was crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor?

Charlemagne

What was Charlemagne's primary goal?

To unite all of the Germanic tribes under his rule.

Which tribes did Charlemagne battle to achieve his goals?

The Slavs, Lombards, and Saxons.

What significant cultural revival occurred during Charlemagne's reign?

The Carolingian Renaissance.

How did Charlemagne convert people to Christianity?

He used violence, including the slaughter of 5,000 Saxons who refused to convert.

What relationship did Charlemagne have with the Catholic Church?

He was a devout Christian and supporter of the Church, often providing resources to assist the Pope.

What event marked Charlemagne's crowning as Holy Roman Emperor?

Pope Leo III crowned him in 800 CE.

What happened after Charlemagne's death in 814 CE?

His son Louis the Pious took over, leading to disputes among Louis's sons over succession.

What was the outcome of the civil war among Louis the Pious's sons?

The Treaty of Verdun in 843 CE split Charlemagne's empire into three sections.

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

Feudalism and Manorialism.

What is feudalism?

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

Who were the vassals in the feudal system?

Nobles or knights 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.

What was manorialism?

The social-economic system dependent on self-sufficient estates.

What role did serfs play in the manorial system?

They worked the land in exchange for protection and food security.

What agricultural innovations increased production by the 11th century?

The three-field system and horse-drawn plow.

What is Shintoism?

The traditional religion of Japan, emphasizing respect for nature and ancestor worship.

What does the term 'Kami' refer to in Shintoism?

Divine spirits believed to dwell in nature.

How did Buddhism influence Japan?

It was introduced in 525 CE and combined with Shintoism, emphasizing teachings and ceremonies.

What is the significance of the Torii gate in Shintoism?

It represents the transition to a sacred space and becoming one with nature.

Who was Prince Shotoku?

He created Japan's first constitution in 604 CE and established guidelines for obedience to the emperor.

What title was given to military dictators in Japan?

Shogun.

What was the Bushido code?

A code of behavior for samurai emphasizing courage, reverence to gods, and honorable death.

What was the role of the daimyo in feudal Japan?

Powerful landowning families that controlled territories and had significant power.

What was the impact of the invasions on Western Christendom between 850 and 1000?

Western Christendom barely survived due to invasions by Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars.

What is hara-kiri?

A method of suicide in Japanese culture.

What were the main similarities between European and Japanese feudalism?

Both had a strong hierarchy, fixed caste systems, and loyalty between lords and knights/samurai.

What was the code of chivalry for knights in Europe?

It included survival and putting women on a pedestal.

What was the code of chivalry called in Japan?

Bushido, which required toughness from women.

What characterized the Tang Dynasty in China?

It revived the Confucian civil service system and favored the aristocracy.

What was the Golden Age of Chinese Arts and Culture?

It occurred during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE).

What significant changes occurred during the Song Dynasty?

There was market growth, urbanization, and the introduction of paper money.

What did the Yuan Dynasty abolish?

The civil service system, valuing foreigners over native Chinese.

Who was Kublai Khan?

The Mongol ruler during the Yuan Dynasty who took Marco Polo as an advisor.

What were the main foreign contacts of the Tang Dynasty?

Revived trade along the Silk Road and initiated sea trade.

What was the significance of Zheng He's voyages?

They explored as far as East Africa for trade and were ended by Emperor Ming to save money.

What was the impact of the Crusades?

Increased trade between Europe and the Mediterranean and a lasting tension between religions.

What initiated the First Crusade?

Pope Urban II's call for a religious war to gain control of the Holy Land in 1095.

What were the results of the First Crusade?

Victory for European Christians and the establishment of four Crusader states.

What happened during the Second Crusade?

Muslims conquered Edessa, leading to a new Crusade that ended in defeat for Christians.

Who were the main leaders during the Third Crusade?

Richard the Lionheart of England and Saladin of the Muslims.

What was the Children's Crusade?

A failed attempt by children to march to the Holy Land, likely ending in slavery.

What caused the Black Death?

The Bubonic Plague, spread by fleas on rats, originating in China.

What were the symptoms of the Bubonic Plague?

Swollen lymph nodes (buboes), vomiting, fever, and bleeding under the skin.

Who was Pesta in Norwegian folklore?

The personification of the Black Death, who brought the disease from farm to farm.

What was the significance of the Ming Dynasty?

It reestablished the civil service system based on meritocracy after the Yuan.

What did the Crusades lead to in terms of the Pope's power?

The Pope's power initially elevated but eventually declined as faith in the Church waned.

What was the impact of the Crusades on Jerusalem?

It remained under the control of the Islamic Empire despite multiple attempts by Christians.

What innovations were made during the Song Dynasty?

Inventions like the compass, paper, printing, porcelain, and gunpowder.

What was the role of knights and samurai in their respective societies?

Both were responsible for protecting those beneath them and swore loyalty to their lords.

What was the economic impact of the Song Dynasty?

Encouraged agriculture, trade, and the rise of the merchant class, leading to urbanization.

What was the significance of the Black Death in Europe?

It caused widespread death and changed societal structures due to labor shortages.

What was the main focus of both European and Japanese feudal systems?

Land ownership was the primary focus.

What did a broomstick symbolize in the context of the Black Plague?

If she came with a broomstick, everyone would die on the farm.

What was the purpose of the plague doctor masks?

They were shaped like bird beaks to stuff herbs that were theorized to stop the spread of disease.

What did medieval doctors believe caused diseases?

They believed diseases were caused by bad vapors, and good smells helped counteract the effects.

What was one of the cures for Buboes during the plague?

People would put figs, onions, mixed with butter and yeast, then cut the swellings open with a knife.

What unusual method was used to treat sores during the plague?

A live frog's belly would be placed on the sore until the frog burst, repeating with other frogs.

What does the painting 'The Triumph of Death' depict?

It reflects the social upheaval and terror that affected Europe after the Plague.

What was the estimated percentage of Europe's population killed by the Plague?

Around ⅓ to ½ of Europe's population.

How did the Plague affect feudalistic duties?

People were freed from their feudalistic duties to help work in other cities.

What was one social change for women due to the Plague?

Women gained more rights, including owning land and running businesses left by deceased males.

How did living conditions improve after the Plague?

Depopulation freed up resources like land, food, and shelter.

What significant change in medicine occurred after the Plague?

People began questioning established truths, leading to a new spirit of inquiry.

What contributed to the decline of feudalism by the 1400s?

Stronger monarchies, growing nationalism, and discontent with nobility.

What technological advancements made knights and castles obsolete?

New weapon technology, such as longbows and cannons.

What was the Statute of Labourers?

It restricted peasants' freedoms by fixing wages to pre-plague levels and making it illegal to seek work with new lords.

What was the Peasants Revolt of 1381?

A revolt against restrictions on peasants' freedoms and wages.

What is a tenant farmer?

A farmer who farms their own plot of land but shares production with the landholder.

How did capitalism rise after the Black Death?

Capital began to replace land as the measure of wealth, with merchants gaining power.

What role did Italian city-states play in the Commercial Revolution?

They led the way in the Commercial Revolution of the 1300s and 1400s.

What was the Great Schism of the Western Church?

A split in Western Christendom due to two popes being elected, one in Rome and one in Avignon.