Humanities Unit Test

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### Middle Ages Unit Test Review Study Guide

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### Timeline of Key Events (with Detailed Descriptions)

1. William the Conqueror triumphs at the Battle of Hastings (1066)

- William, Duke of Normandy, claimed the English throne after King Edward the Confessor’s death. In response, King Harold II of England was crowned instead. In 1066, William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings, marking the beginning of Norman rule in England. William’s victory reshaped England socially and politically, establishing feudalism as the dominant system.

2. The First Crusade begins (1096)

- The Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in response to the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I’s call for help against the Seljuk Turks. Crusaders, motivated by religious fervor, military glory, and the promise of indulgences, captured Jerusalem in 1099. This began a series of Crusades to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control.

3. Murder of Thomas Becket (1170)

- Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, clashed with King Henry II over the king's attempts to control the Church. In 1170, Becket was murdered by knights loyal to Henry. His death caused outrage across Europe, leading to his canonization as a saint. This event deepened the conflict between monarchy and the Church.

4. King John signs the Magna Carta (1215)

- King John of England faced rebellion from his barons due to his mismanagement and heavy taxes. In 1215, he was forced to sign the Magna Carta, which limited the king’s power, established the principle of the rule of law, and guaranteed certain rights, including protection from unlawful imprisonment and the right to a fair trial.

5. Marco Polo journeys to China (1271–1295)

- Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, traveled to China and spent 17 years at the court of Kublai Khan. His accounts of the wealth and culture of the East were published and sparked European interest in trade with Asia, especially along the Silk Road, and influenced future exploration.

6. Eleanor of Aquitaine dies (1204)

- Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest women in medieval Europe, had two marriages to powerful kings: Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. She played a key political role in European affairs and was the mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John. She died in 1204 after a life of significant influence.

7. Saladin recaptures Jerusalem (1187)

- Saladin, the Muslim leader, retook Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 after a lengthy siege. His success sparked the Third Crusade, led by Richard the Lionheart and others. Saladin’s respectful treatment of Christian pilgrims earned him respect in both Christian and Muslim worlds.

8. English Peasants Revolt (1381)

- The revolt was sparked by heavy taxation, particularly the poll tax, after the Black Death. Led by Wat Tyler, the peasants marched on London, demanding an end to serfdom and high taxes. Though the revolt was suppressed, it weakened the feudal system.

9. French Peasants Revolt (Jacquerie) (1358)

- After years of war and hardship during the Hundred Years' War, peasants in northern France revolted in the Jacquerie, attacking the nobility. The revolt was crushed by French nobles, but it illustrated widespread discontent with the feudal system.

10. The Hundred Years’ War ends (1453)

- The Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) between England and France was marked by significant battles like Agincourt. France emerged victorious after Joan of Arc inspired French forces. The war's end led to significant political changes, including the decline of feudalism and the rise of strong national monarchies.

11. The Black Death strikes Europe (1347–1351)

- The Black Death was a plague caused by Yersinia pestis, which wiped out about one-third of Europe’s population. It had profound social, economic, and religious effects, weakening the feudal system and causing labor shortages that changed the nature of work and social structures.

12. Joan of Arc begins her campaign against the English (1429)

- Joan of Arc, a French peasant girl, led the French army to victory at the Siege of Orléans during the Hundred Years’ War. Her leadership turned the tide for France, but she was captured by the English and executed for heresy. She was later canonized as a saint.

13. The Battle of Agincourt (1415)

- In the Battle of Agincourt, King Henry V of England defeated a much larger French army using the English longbow. The victory helped strengthen England’s position in the Hundred Years’ War but did not end the conflict, which continued until 1453.

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### Important Vocabulary (with Definitions and Context)

1. Feudalism

- A system where land is exchanged for military service, with a hierarchical structure of kings, lords, vassals, and peasants. It became the dominant social and political system in medieval Europe.

2. Fief

- A piece of land granted to a vassal by a lord in exchange for military service or other obligations.

3. Feudal contract

- The mutual agreement between a lord and a vassal, where the lord provides land (fief) in exchange for loyalty and military service.

4. Bailiff

- An overseer or manager of a manor, responsible for administering justice, collecting rents, and managing the estate.

5. Tenant in chief

- A noble who holds land directly from the king and is responsible for military service in return for their land.

6. Self-sufficient

- Describes a community or manor that produces everything it needs locally, without reliance on external resources. Manors were often self-sufficient, growing food and making goods for daily life.

7. Demesne

- The part of a manor that was directly controlled by the lord and worked by peasants or serfs for the lord’s benefit.

8. Merchants

- Individuals who buy and sell goods for profit. As trade increased in the Middle Ages, merchants grew in influence, often organizing into guilds to regulate their trades.

9. Tithe

- A tax, typically 10% of a person’s income, paid to the Church for its upkeep and to support religious activities.

10. Excommunicated

- A punishment in which a person is excluded from participation in the sacraments and services of the Church, often used as a form of control or discipline.

11. Monastery

- A religious community where monks or nuns live, pray, and work. Monasteries were centers of learning and preservation of ancient texts.

12. Craft guild stages

- The progression for artisans in the medieval craft system:

- Apprentice: A young person learning the trade.

- Journeyman: A skilled worker who works for a master.

- Master: A fully qualified artisan who can open their own workshop.

13. Chivalry

- The code of conduct for knights, emphasizing bravery, loyalty, honor, and respect for women and the weak.

14. Poll tax

- A tax levied on individuals, regardless of their wealth or income, which became a source of unrest during peasant revolts.

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### Key People (with Roles and Stories)

1. Anglo-Saxons

- The early medieval people of England, who established kingdoms and a system of laws before the Norman Conquest.

2. Normans

- Descendants of Scandinavian Vikings who settled in northern France and became powerful under William the Conqueror, changing England’s political and social systems after 1066.

3. Serf

- A peasant bound to the land under feudalism, working the lord’s land in exchange for protection and basic rights.

4. Freeholder

- A person who owns their own land and is not tied to a lord’s estate, enjoying more freedoms than a serf.

5. Lord

- A noble who owns land and provides protection to vassals and peasants in exchange for their loyalty and service.

6. Vassal

- A noble who receives land from a lord in exchange for military service and loyalty.

7. King John

- Known for signing the Magna Carta after being forced by his barons to limit his powers and ensure basic rights for his subjects.

8. John Hus

- A Czech reformer who criticized the Catholic Church and called for religious reforms, leading to his execution for heresy.

9. John Wycliffe

- An English theologian who challenged the Church and believed in translating the Bible into vernacular languages, which influenced future religious reforms.

10. Joan of Arc

- A French peasant girl who led the French army to victory during the Hundred Years’ War but was captured and executed. She became a martyr and a symbol of French nationalism.

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### Additional Key Topics

- Establishment of Feudalism: Feudalism emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire, as kings and nobles used land to gain loyalty and military service. It organized society into a hierarchical structure that governed everyday life for centuries.

- Types of Law Courts: During the Middle Ages, law was administered by local courts, ecclesiastical courts (Church courts), and royal courts. The Church had significant control over legal matters, especially in religious or moral cases.

- Daily Living on the Manor: Peasants lived in small villages on manors, working the land to grow crops, raise animals, and produce goods for the lord. They had little freedom and were dependent on the lord for protection.

- Purpose of Castles: Castles were built as fortresses to protect the lord’s territory from invaders and to assert control over the surrounding land. They were also centers of administration and sometimes became the homes of nobles.

- The Power of the Church: The Church played a central role in medieval life. It had vast power over people’s lives and could influence monarchs. However, its wealth and corruption led to critiques by figures like Wycliffe and Hus.

Memorize the order of these events in chronological order:

1. William the Conqueror triumphs at the Battle of Hastings (1066)

2. The First Crusade begins (1096)

3. Murder of Thomas Becket (1170)

4. King John signs the Magna Carta (1215)

5. Marco Polo journeys to China (1271-1295)

6. Eleanor of Aquitaine dies (1204)

7. Saladin recaptures Jerusalem (1187)

8. The Black Death strikes Europe (1347-1351)

9. English peasants revolt (1381)

10. French peasants revolt (1358)

11. Joan of Arc begins her campaign against the English (1429)

12. The Battle of Agincourt (1415)

13. The Hundred Years’ War ends (1453)

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