Medieval History Honors
Final Exam Review
FINAL EXAM: MAY 4, 2015
Part I. Short Answer: you should write at least three complete sentences detailing the
meaning, rough date/context and the historical significance. Use your notes, class
presentations and the textbook to study these.
Council of Nicaea
Hagiography
Feudalism
Romanitas
Heretics
Primogeniture
Caliphs
Simony
Christendom
Cluny
Cistercians
Investiture conflict
First Crusade
Universitas
Humoral Theory
Albigensian Crusade
Blood Libel
Franciscan Order
Black Death
Hundred Years’ War
Jacquerie rebellion
Three Orders
Chivalry
Twelfth Century Renaissance
Imitatio Christi
Inquisition
“Babylonian Captivity”
Three-field system
The Great Famine
Petrine Theory
Part II. Chronology: Find the key events for each of these dates below. Use your textbook,
your notes and any class presentations to answer. (The exam will be the opposite…a list of
events…and you will provide the dates).
284
313
395
476
527-565
541-c.750
622
711
793
800
843
1066
1077
1095
1187
1204
1209-1229
1215
1261
1290
1282-1285
1291
1309-1377
1315-1322
1337
1346-1351
1356
1378
1453
Part III. Source Identification and Analysis: I will provide a series of excerpts of key
passage. You will select one and identify the source, author (if known) and relative time period
and explain your answer (what clues gave it away); the historical significance of the source
itself; and the meaning of the particular excerpted passage.) A big part of this grade is based
on your explanation of your reasoning and analysis of the passage, so even a wrong
identification will get credit if your argument and use of evidence is strong.
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Tacitus
Eusebius
Life of St. Martin
Rule of St. Benedict
Surah 47
Alcuin's Letter on Vikings
Foundation Charter of Cluny
Letters of Gregory VII and Henry IV
Trial of Joan of Arc
Part IV. Essay: The essay requests that you compare broad themes over time in our respective
sources. One may be your own source. But select two other sources that we have closely
studied this semester to compare.
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Gregory of Tours, Histories
Procopius, Secret History
Einhard, Life of Charlemagne
Dhuoda, Handbook for William
Anna Komnene, Alexiad
Jean of Joinville, Life of St. Louis
Abelard and Heloise, Letters
Marie de France, “Yonec”
Gerald of Wales, History and Topography of Ireland
Book of Deeds of James I
Book of Margery Kempe
Thomas of Monmouth, Life of William of Norwich
Compare the three works through one of the following lenses. Keep in mind that not all sources
will work well with all lenses, so be judicious about your choices. Be sensitive to the concept of
change over time and differences between genre, audience, and the biases of the respective
authors.
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2.
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5.
6.
The role of women; or gender more broadly construed
The idea of sanctity
Piety and religious belief
Memory and commemoration
Rulership and government
Cultural contact and exchange
This list is certainly not exhaustive. If you think of something else that is compelling to you,
please let me know.