Question 1

Term for identification: Lollards

Accepted Answer

The term "Lollards" refers to a pre-Protestant Christian religious movement that existed from the late 14th century to the English Reformation. It is named after the followers of John Wycliffe, an English theologian, philosopher, church reformer, and Oxford professor who is considered a precursor to Protestantism. Wycliffe criticized the wealth and power of the Church, the corruption among the clergy, and advocated for the translation of the Bible into the vernacular English so that laypeople could read it for themselves.

The Lollards challenged many of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, such as the doctrine of transubstantiation, the sale of indulgences, the veneration of saints, and the authority of the Pope. They also promoted the idea that the Bible should be the primary authority for Christians, rather than the Church hierarchy.

The movement was initially centered in England, but it had some influence in other parts of Europe as well. Lollardy was met with strong opposition from the Church, and many of its adherents were persecuted. Despite this, the ideas of the Lollards persisted and can be seen as contributing to the broader Reformation that took place in the 16th century, which led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations.

Question 2

Term for identification: Babylonian Captivity

Accepted Answer

The term "Babylonian Captivity" refers to a period in Jewish history during which a number of people from the ancient Kingdom of Judah were captives in Babylonia. This event is also known as the Babylonian Exile. It began with the first deportation of Jews from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BCE, following the siege of Jerusalem. The captivity continued with a second deportation in 587/586 BCE after the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the conquest of Jerusalem, and it lasted until approximately 538 BCE.

The Babylonian Captivity had a profound impact on Jewish life and culture. During this period, the Jewish people were forced to adapt to life in a foreign land, which led to significant religious and social changes. It was during the exile that much of the Hebrew Bible was compiled and edited, and the foundations of modern Judaism were laid as the exiles sought to preserve their religious identity away from their homeland.

The exile ended when the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and issued a decree in 538 BCE that allowed the Jews to return to Judah. This return is known as the end of the Babylonian Captivity, and it led to the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, an event that is chronicled in the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

Question 3

Describe the life of a serf on a feudal manor. How would you characterize the medieval peasantry and how their lives compared to the lives of the nobility?

Accepted Answer

Answers would include a discussion of restrictions on serfs, agriculture, land issues, warrior class, patents of nobility, rights, honor code, and economic mobility through marriage.

Question 4

Which statement best describes the Investiture Controversy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the emperor's alleged right to select bishops
B)  the election of the pope
C)  the Church's disapproval of feudal warfare
D)  the pope's alleged right to crown emperors
E)  the Church's right to formulate civil laws

Question 5

Which major battle of the Hundred Years' War saw the introduction of longbows and gunpowder to warfare?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paris
B)  Orleans
C)  Agincourt
D)  Poitiers
E)  Crecy

Question 6

Describe the role of the Church in medieval Europe including parish clergy, monastic clergy, and the development of new clerical orders.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Trace the development of the medieval economic revival. What developments led to this resurgence including geographical, economic, religious, and legal aspects?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Term for identification: Inquisition

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

All of the following titles of nobility were hereditary EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  Duke
B)  Count
C)  Marquis
D)  Knight
E)  Baron

Question 10

Term for identification: patents of nobility

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

Land that had to remain unplowed and unseeded until the soil recovered its nutrients was termed ____________________ land.

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Term for identification: Council of Constance

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

Before the 12th century, which of the following groups supplied the Church with monks and nuns?

Accepted Answer

A)  younger offspring of the aristocracy
B)  large families produced by the peasantry
C)  scandal-ridden members of the nobility
D)  the already diminutive middle class
E)  better educated members of the community

Question 14

In what part of the world did the Black Death originate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eastern Europe
B)  Central Asia
C)  Western Europe
D)  North Africa
E)  Middle East

Question 15

What event led to a weakening of the German states in the 11th and 12th centuries?

Accepted Answer

A)  Council of Constance
B)  Conciliar Movement
C)  the Avignon papacy
D)  the Investiture Controversy
E)  Babylonian Captivity

Question 16

Term for identification: Gothic Style

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

A significant contribution to the economic revival in Europe came as the Church enforced the ____________________, which reduced random violence by seeking to protect non-combatants like women, clergy, and peasants.

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

Which of the following was NOT a goal of the Council of Constance?

Accepted Answer

A)  to end the Great Schism
B)  to return the papacy to Rome
C)  to condemn the heretics
D)  to reform the entire Church and clergy
E)  to return the papacy to Avignon

Question 19

What forbade fighting on Sundays and holy feast days in medieval times?

Accepted Answer

A)  Benedictine Rule
B)  the Crusaders
C)  Conciliar Movement
D)  Peace of God
E)  Truce of God

Question 20

What changed for serfs after the Black Death?

Accepted Answer

A)  None of them survived.
B)  They were freed by their lords.
C)  Their dues were removed.
D)  Their treatment by the lords improved considerably since they could bargain for better working conditions.
E)  They no longer were obligated legally to their lords, although they could commit themselves to him if they chose.

Exam 20: The European Middle Ages, C 800-1500