Chapter 21 Review Sheet - Answers
1. Define the terms Middle Ages and Medieval.
Middle Ages – the period in Europe between 500 and 1,500 ce
Medieval – a word used to describe the Middle Ages, for example, medieval clothing
2. What led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
The invasion of Germanic peoples who conquered much of Europe.
3. Who was Charlemagne?
He was the King of the Franks who united much of Europe after the fall of Rome.
4. What impact did Charlemagne have on Europe?
He built schools, spread Christianity and appointed local lords to help him rule. Those lords
would gain power after the death of Charlemagne.
5. What was Europe like after the death of Charlemagne?
It was divided into many kingdoms ruled by local lords.
6. Define clergy.
Clergy – members of the RCC who are trained and ordained for religious services
7. List the members of clergy in order.
Pope – Cardinals / Archbishops – Bishops – Priests – Monks / Nuns
8. Describe the role of each member of clergy.
Pope – the head of the RCC
Cardinals / Archbishops – in charge of all the churches in a kingdom, advised kings, were
wealthy land owners who granted fiefs, the College of Cardinals elected the next pope
Bishops – in charge of all the churches in a region (diocese), advised kings, wealthy landowners
who granted fiefs
Priest – in charge of a single church, provided spiritual guidance, most Europeans accessed God
through their priests
Monks / Nuns – did manual labor, taught in schools, took care of the sick and the poor,
missionaries
9. Define missionary and explain why they were important to the Roman Catholic Church.
Missionary – a person who travels to different locations in order to convert people to
Christianity. Missionaries helped to spread Christianity throughout Europe uniting Europe under
one religion and increased the power of the RCC
10. Define sacraments and provide at least two examples.
Sacraments – the sacred(holy) rituals of the RCC – Baptism, First Communion, Reconciliation,
Confirmation, marriage, Holy Orders and Last Rites
11. Why was the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) a center of authority?
The RCC controlled who went to heaven and who went to hell. This gave the church a lot of
power. They controlled the sacraments like marriage and forgiveness of sin. Due to the lack of
knowledge, the unexplained (such as natural phenomenon) was attributed to God and the RCC.
12. How did the RCC impact the daily lives of Europeans?
The RCC controlled the sacraments, monks and nuns tended to the sick and poor as well as ran
schools, in order to get into heaven people tried to do good deeds and avoid sin.
13. What impact did Vikings have on Europeans?
Viking sailors began raiding monasteries in Scotland, England and Ireland. Monasteries were full
of wealth and undefended. Viking raiders also looted and destroyed farms and villages. Vikings
were also farmers, traders and explorers. They settled in England, Ireland, parts of France and
Russia. In these settlements they intermarried with the locals. Often Viking travel opened up
trade routes for Europeans.
14. List the social classes of feudal Europe in order.
Royalty, Nobility, Knights and Peasantry
15. Describe the relationship between these three words lord, vassal, and fief.
A lord would grant a fief to a vassal in exchange for military service.
16. What role did knights play in the Middle Ages?
Knights were the warrior class. When they were not fighting they were training to fight.
17. Compare and contrast European and Japanese feudalism.
Similarites – wealthy land-owning class, warrior class, landowning class was more powerful than
royalty, bushido and chivalry
Differences – Japanese feudalism was centralized around Edo and the shogun while European
feudalism was spread out all over Europe with each manor being its own feudal system
18. Describe life on a medieval manor.
Manors were self-sufficient meaning that everything one would need was available on a manor.
19. Define serf.
A peasant bound to the lord’s land
20. In which class of the Middle Ages would you want to be? (Choose either Clergy, Royalty,
Nobility, Knights or Peasantry) Explain your answer providing details.