Middle Ages Study Guide
1. List three literary events from the timeline.
2. List three political events from the timeline.
3. List the three political and social milestones of the Middle Ages.
4. The Anglo-Saxon period of British history ended when the last Anglo-Saxon king was
killed. Who was this king?
5. In what three ways did the Norman Conquest affect England?
6. Because William the Conqueror wanted what was his, he crossed the English Channel
from Normandy with a large army in tow. What was his goal?
7. England’s and our culture are a mix of two entities. What are they?
8. What two things have the Anglo-Saxons been credited with developing? What three
things are credited to the Normans?
9. William is responsible for a listing of people’s personal property in what book? What
kind of tax did this lead to?
10. Many kings of England had dual roles because they also stayed dukes of Normandy. The
Anglo-structure was no longer followed. What was the new social structure called?
11. Besides being a social system, feudalism was known as three other systems. Name them.
12. Draw the feudal triangle and label it.
13. What was the knight’s major job?
14. After training, a knight is dubbed and earns what title?
15. What code ruled the knights?
16. Explain an odd practice of the knights concerning ladies. What was the name of this
practice? From this idea, a very famous story was created. Name the story.
17. Because of chivalry, what new genre of literature formed?
18. As people of the Middle Ages move out of the feudal castles and move into towns and
cities, the feudal system dies out. What new system is created? What author shows us
these in his works? What new class erupts during this time? What expresses their views
of life?
19. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the knight is returning from a series of holy
wars. What are these wars called?
20. In The Canterbury Tales, where are Chaucer’s characters going on their pilgrimage?
What was the cause of Thomas a Becket’s death?
21. What document signed by King John in 1215 heralded a return to older, democratic
tendencies?
22. What was waged by England against France? How were the English represented?
23. What is another name for the Bubonic Plague? By how much did it reduce the nation’s
population?