Prelude to the Modern World
Read the document: “Prelude to the Modern World”. Answer the following questions about the reading.
Place your answers on a separate piece of paper. Incorporate the question into the answer and use
complete intelligible answers (which means complete sentences with proper grammar and spelling).
1. What prevented the early Monarchs from centralizing their power?
2. What is the most significant political achievement foundational achievement
of the European feudal age?
3. Provide a thorough analysis of the political systems of Europe during the
Middle Ages. Begin with a general description of the feudal system then
progress to specifics about France, England, and the German States.
a. Feudalism:
b. France:
c. England:
d. German States:
4. Provide a basic description of economic life during the Middle Ages.
5. What were the various components that made up the culture of the Middle
Ages?
6. What did the Middle Ages witness, intellectually, between the 11th and 14th
centuries?
7. What was Scholasticism?
8. Assess the statement, “pygmies standing on the shoulders of giants” with
regard to how Middle Age intellectuals applied Scholasticism.
9. What themes dominated literature and the arts during the Middle Ages?
10. What accounts for the small amount of nonreligious themes in literature
during the Middle Ages?
11. Using what you have learned so far, analyze why there was such a strong
anti-intellectual strain that ran through society during the Middle Ages.
12. What were the roots of Middle Age art?
13. Describe the following art styles – include how they differed (address the use
of sculpture in architectural design).
a. Romanesque
b. Gothic
14. In what way was the Church more than just a communion of the faithful?
Explain.
15. Analyze the ways in which the Church was an evolving system. Include each
of the following:
a. Francis of Assisi
b. Dominic Guzman
16. Using internet resources, describe the basic beliefs of the following heretical
groups:
a. Albigensians (include a description of Manichaean Dualism)
b. Waldensians
17. What did the successors of the heretical groups above justify? What were
they instrumental in developing later in European History?