JOAN OF ARC
1. How does this painting show the influence of religion on politics? Joan of Arc,
aka the Maid of Orleans, in this painting shows that although she was a devoted Christian, she was a
warrior, which showed how she convinced dauphin George, the French king’s eldest son. By fighting in the
name of God, it convinced the prince to let Joan fight in the name of the French and rid of the English
from the land.
2. Do you think the painter of this picture viewed Joan of Arc as a heroine?
Explain. This painter definitely saw Joan of Arc as a heroine by the way he has her dressed up, ready
for battle in her armor, sword, and white banner.
3. How does this painting combine the style of the ancient Greeks and Roman
artists with that of the artists of the Middle Ages? Give examples. This painting
demonstrates some of the natural aspects the Romans and Greeks showed in their own paintings, but it
still held the flatness of medieval art.
FEUDALISM IN EUROPE
1. Do you think the social standing of merchants during the Middle Ages helped
or hurt the economy? Explain. Merchants helped the economy by spreading theirs ideas and
religion, started the currency, and starting cities when they untied as guilds. Because of this, money
started becoming coming, and coins were used to buy goods, food, and cloths.
2. Do you think church officials had a large amount of influence in the feudal
system? Explain. They had too much influence. Because they were supposed to be above the very
monarchs, they influenced everything from there, convincing the innocent peasants and serfs to get what
they wanted and when money started becoming common, it gave them much more power to buy whatever
opulence they wanted.
3. In the feudal system, do you think knights ever felt conflicting loyalties?
Explain. I don’t they had conflicting loyalties, as knights were only loyal to themselves and those who
game them power and land, in this case, their lords, kings, and of course, the Church.
FEUDALISM IN JAPAN
1. Do you think the social standing of merchants in feudal Japan helped or hurt
the economy? Explain. It hurt the economy. Merchants spread ideas and sold off the goods and
necessary tools that others needed to do whatever they needed. Without them, the economy would’ve ceased
to exist and people wouldn’t have been able to get what they needed: food, clothing, weapons, and other
substantial things that daily life or warriors needed.
2. How is feudalism in Japan similar to the feudalism in Europe? How is it
different? It is similar by having the emperor/king at the top, shogun (or daimyo)/lords second,
samurai/knights third, and artisans fourth. Differences were that peasants and serfs were in the bottom
in Europe and were with the peasants in Japan while the merchants were flipped. Also, the emperor in
Japan didn’t have any absolute power as did monarchs in Europe.
3. Do you think feudalism in Japan helped to unify the country? Explain. It didn’t
help because the shogun and daimyo were always fighting among each other for power, overthrowing
emperors one after another, sending everything downhill and resulting a hurt for the people and land.
IMAGAWA RYŌSHUN
1. Based on this excerpt, do you think Buddhism had a widespread influence in
Japan? Explain. It did have a widespread influence because of the Imagawa spoke of following the
teachings of their religion which in this case, was Buddhism.
2. In medieval Japan, what do you think are some of the attributes of moral
behavior? Human-heartedness, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and good faith.
3. According to Ryōshun, what negative influence should his brother try to
avoid? He was to avoid anyone who was a bad influence and not to be mercilessness.
From Article XXIII
(c) Therefore, from childhood you should associate with
upright companions and not for a moment submit to the
influence of bad friends.
(p) Just as the Buddhist scriptures tell us that the
Buddha incessantly strives to save mankind, in the
same way you should exert your mind to the utmost in
all your activities,
be they civil or military, and never fall into negligence.
(q) It should be regarded as dangerous if the ruler of the
people in a province is deficient even in a single of the
cardinal virtues of human-heartedness, righteousness,
propriety, wisdom, and good faith.— Imagawa
Ryōshun, Articles of Admonition,
Articles XXXII