Chapter 19 Final Test Comprehensive Study Guide
Geography and Early European Settlements
╹ The Landform of Europe • Europe is essentially a large peninsula, or a "peninsula of peninsulas." • The continent is characterized by its geography lying within of the seacoast, which has historically influenced trade, climate, and transportation.
╹ Scandinavia • Location: This region is located in northern Europe, comprising modern-day countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. • Description: It is defined by its rugged landscape, cold climate, and coastal features. • Fjords: These are narrow inlets of the sea between cliffs or steep slopes that are characteristic of the Scandinavian coastline.
╹ The Anglo-Saxons • The Anglo-Saxons were Germanic tribes that invaded and eventually conquered areas of Britain after the decline of Roman influence. • The name "England" is derived from "Angeland," the land of the Angles.
╹ The Celts • The Celts were the original inhabitants of various regions in Europe, including Britain and Ireland, who were pushed into the mountainous areas and fringes of the continent by invading groups like the Anglo-Saxons.
The Carolingian Empire and the Rise of Monarchies
╹ Charles Martel and the Battle of Tours • Charles Martel, known as "The Hammer," was a Frankish leader. • The Battle of Tours (occurred in ): The result of this pivotal battle was the defeat of the Muslim forces, which successfully halted the Islamic expansion into Western Europe.
╹ Charlemagne's Reign and Contributions • Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the Romans in . • Promotions: Charlemagne was a major proponent of education and learning, establishing schools and encouraging the preservation of Latin manuscripts. • Post-Death Invasions: After the death of Charlemagne, Europe faced significant instability and was invaded by several groups, specifically the Vikings from the north, the Magyars from the east, and Muslims from the south.
╹ Alfred of Wessex • Alfred of Wessex, also known as Alfred the Great, is significant for uniting the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to defend against Viking invasions, laying the foundation for a unified English monarchy.
╹ Otto I • Otto I was a powerful German king who was eventually crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in , marking the start of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Feudal System and Medieval Society
╹ Feudalism and Land Management • Feudalism: A social and political system based on the granting of land in exchange for loyalty and military service. • Fief: A piece of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service and loyalty. • Vassal: A person who received a fief and in return served a lord as a knight or advisor. • Manor: The agricultural estate and home of a lord, which served as the basic unit of economic organization in the Middle Ages.
╹ Social Classes: Serfs vs. Freemen • Serfs: These were peasants who were legally bound to the lord's land. They could not leave the manor without permission from the lord and were required to provide labor and a portion of their crops. • Freemen: Unlike serfs, freemen were peasants who owned their own land or paid rent to a lord. They had the right to move and were not bound to the soil. • General Peasants: This group encompasses both serfs and freemen who worked the land and lived in the rural society.
╹ Knights and Chivalry • Knights: These were warriors on horseback within the feudal system who provided military service to leur lords. • Characteristics/Qualities: Knights were expected to exhibit bravery, skill in combat, and loyalty to their lord. • Chivalry: This was the formal code of conduct followed by knights. It emphasized honor, courtesy, bravery, and the protection of the weak and the Church.
╹ The Nobility • Nobles inhabited castles and manors. They held political and economic power, oversaw the justice within their lands, and managed the defense of the territory. • Castles: Large, fortified structures designed for defense and as the residence for the nobility and their families.
Legal and Political Developments in England and France
╹ William the Conqueror • The Duke of Normandy who led the Norman Conquest of England in . • Domesday Book: William ordered a comprehensive census of England to determine the distribution of land and resources for taxation purposes.
╹ King Henry II and the Legal System • Henry II is credited with establishing common law across England. • Grand Jury: A group established to decide if there was enough evidence to accuse a person of a crime. • Trial Jury: A group established to decide whether an accused person is innocent or guilty.
╹ King John and the Magna Carta • The Magna Carta (Great Charter) was signed by King John in the year . • Significance: It was a document that limited the king’s authority and established that the monarch was subject to the law, not above it. It protected the rights of the nobles and ultimately paved the way for individual liberties.
╹ Edward I and Parliament • Edward I established the Parliament, which served as a representative government for England, allowing different social classes to have a voice in the making of laws and taxes.
╹ French Estates-General • The Estates-General was the representative assembly of France, composed of three groups: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). • Authority: Despite its representative nature, it never became more powerful than the French King; the King maintained absolute authority.
Conflict of Power: The Church and the State
╹ The Authority Struggle • There was a constant tension between the Kings of Europe and the Popes over who held ultimate authority. Popes believed spiritual authority overrode secular rule, while kings sought to control church appointments and land within their domains.
╹ The Great Schism • Cause: The Great Schism was primarily caused by a dispute over leadership in the Church, with multiple individuals claiming to be the rightful Pope at the same time, leading to a divide within the religious community.
╹ Key Religious Terms • Concordat: A formal agreement between the church and a government (secular power). • Missionaries: Individuals who travel to spread their religious faith to other peoples and regions.
The Crusades: A Holy War
╹ Overview and Participants • The Crusades were a series of holy wars fought between European Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land. • End Result: While the Christians initially gained territory, the end result was that the Muslims eventually regained control of the region. • Effects: The Crusades led to an increase in trade between Europe and the Middle East, weakened the feudal system as nobles sold their land or died in battle, and sparked a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and technology.
Economic Expansion and Urban Development
╹ Trade Improvements in the 1100s and 1200s • Trade improved significantly due to increased stability, the rise of a money economy, and the expansion of trade routes across Europe and into the East.
╹ Improvements in Farming • Technological advancements like the heavy plow, the horse collar, and the three-field system of crop rotation allowed for larger yields and population growth.
╹ Medieval Cities and Town Life • Conditions: Medieval cities were notoriously dirty, crowded, and polluted. • Power Dynamics: Towns grew as centers of trade. Townspeople were eventually able to force the nobles to grant them basic rights and local self-government (charters). • Craft Guild: An organization of people in the same craft or trade. Their purpose was to regulate the quality of goods, prices, and wages, and to provide support for members and their families.
Crisis and War in the Late Middle Ages
╹ The Black Death (Plague) • Origin: The Black Death started in Asia and spread along trade routes via fleas on rats. • Effects: It killed millions (roughly one-third of Europe's population), causing a massive labor shortage, higher wages for workers, and the decline of the feudal system.
╹ Famine • A period of extreme scarcity of food, which devastated the population through starvation and disease.
╹ The Hundred Years’ War • A long-running conflict fought between England and France over territorial disputes and the right to the French throne. • Joan of Arc: A significant figure who claimed divine inspiration to lead the French forces to a crucial victory at Orleans, changing the tide of the war before being captured and executed.
╹ The Reconquista • This was the centuries-long struggle by Christian kingdoms in Spain and Portugal to retake their land from the Muslims. • King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella: These monarchs united Spain and declared Catholicism as the official religion, subsequently expelling Jews and Muslims who refused to convert.
Essential Vocabulary and Key Terms
╹ Social/Political Terms • Serf: A bound peasant. • Feudalism: A political/social system of land for loyalty. • Freemen: Peasants not bound to the land. • Peasant: Rural labor class. • Manor: Economic estate of a lord. • Parliament: Representative lawmaking body. • Vassal: Receiver of land in exchange for service.
╹ Religio-Political and Legal Terms • Reconquista: Christian reconquest of Spain. • Grand Jury: Jury that decides if there is enough evidence for an accusation. • Trial Jury: Jury that decides guilt or innocence. • Concordat: Agreement between Church and state. • Domesday Book: William the Conqueror's census. • Document: A written or printed record (e.g., Magna Carta). • Establish: To set up or create (e.g., common law). • Cooperate: To work together (e.g., interaction between vassals and lords).
Crusades
╹ Overview and Participants • The Crusades were a series of holy wars fought between European Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land. • Key participants included knights and warriors from various European kingdoms.
╹ End Result • While the Christians initially gained territory, the eventual outcome was that the Muslims regained control of the region. • The Crusades led to an increase in trade between Europe and the Middle East, weakened the feudal system as nobles sold their land or died in battle, and sparked a cross-cultural exchange of ideas and technology.
Charlemagne
╹ Promotions • Charlemagne was a major proponent of education and learning, establishing schools and encouraging the preservation of Latin manuscripts.
The Landform of Europe
╹ The Landform of Europe • Europe is essentially a large peninsula, or a "peninsula of peninsulas." • The continent is characterized by its geography lying within of the seacoast, which has historically influenced trade, climate, and transportation.