Middle Ages Questions

1. What were the Middle Ages?

The historical time periodbetween the Fall of theRoman Empire & theRenaissance

2. What was the Byzantine Empire?

The Christian Empire thatthe eastern half of the oldRoman Empire became.

3. How did Feudalism work?It was a political systembased on land & loyalty.Kings passed out land to Lordsin exchange for loyalty and military service. Lords thendid the same to lesser Lords.

3. continued

Peasants / Serfs worked the

land in exchanged for shelter

and protection.

Land = Power

4. What was the manor, and how was it self-sufficient?

•Was the Lord’s estate• It was self-sufficient: Food, water, shelter, fuel, etc. was

all located there.

5. What happened to the Christian Church in 1054?

• It split East & West• The Catholic Church in the west• The Eastern Orthodox Church in the east.

6. List 3 interactions between Asia & Europe:

• The Crusades• The Black Death• Trade along the Silk Road

7. What were the Crusades, and what was their main goal?

The Crusades were the HolyWars Christians fought against the Muslims in orderregain control of Jerusalem.

8. Major effects of Crusades:

• Trade increased between Europe & Asia• Europeans brought back knowledge & ideas from the East• Resentment between Muslims & Christians increased

9. Causes of the Black Death:

• Started in China, brought to Europe via trade• Infected fleas on rats helped spread the bubonic plague• Lack of knowledge & poor sanitation allowed it spread

10. Effects of the Black Death• Killed almost 25 million people in Europe• Ended feudalism because the serfs who survived left the manor in search of better wages.