Name:
On my Honor:
Stearns Chapter 10
I.Introduction
What gains were made in Western Europe as a result of expanded trading?
What were the views of Thomas Aquinas?
II.Stages of Postclassical Development
What caused the fragmentation of Italy?
A.The Manorial System: Obligation and Allegiances
Explain the difference between slaves and serfs.
B.The Church: Political and Spiritual Power
What was the Pope’s role in the Catholic church?
What was monastery life like and how did monasteries contribute to medieval society.
C.Charlemagne and His Successors
Where did Charlemagne establish his empire?
Why is the term “Holy Roman Emperor” a misleading one?
D.New Economic and Urban Vigor
What inventions made life easier for the serfs?
Why did Viking invasions begin to taper off during the 10th century?
E.Feudal Monarchies and Political Advances
Explain how a feudal monarchy works.
How did a feudal monarchy benefit the king and others in power?
F.Limited Government
What are three ways in which the power of kings and aristocrats was limited under
feudalism?
G.The West’s Expansionist Impulse
Explain two factors that led to growing expansionist impulses?
How did the Crusades influence development in Europe?
H.Religious Reform and Evolution
What was wrong with the Catholic church?
Describe Franciscan values? How did they seek reform in the Catholic church?
How did Pope Gregory try to reform the church?
I.The High Middle Ages
Describe this period in medieval history.
III.Western Culture in the Postclassical Era
A.Theology: Assimilating Faith and Reason
Contrast the views of Peter Abelard and Bernard of Clairvaux regarding faith and
logic/reason.
How did Thomas Aquinas explain the roles of faith and reason?
B.Popular Religion
Why did ordinary people tend to venerate (worship) saints?
C.Religious Themes in Art and Literature
Describe some of the achievements in architecture during this period.
What were some of the literary themes present in medieval writing?
IV.Changing Economic and Social Forms in the Postclassical Centuries
A.New Strains in Rural Life
What led to tension between peasants and lords?
B.Growth of Trade and Banking
Why was banking introduced?
The growth of banking and trade led to the origins of what economic system?
C.Limited Sphere for Women
Describe the role of the women in medieval society.
V.The Decline of the Medieval Synthesis
How did the Hundred Year’s War signal the breakdown of feudalism?
How did the Black Death contribute to the breakdown of medieval Europe?
A.Signs of Strain
What new technologies were changing warfare?
What happened to church power in the 14th century? Explain the reasons for this change.
B.The Postclassical West and Its Heritage
Should the Middle Ages be viewed as a period of achievement or as a “lull, between the
glories of Rome and the glitter of a more modern Europe”(pg 235)? Support your answer.
VI.Terms – Define the following terms in complete sentences.
Vikings
Manorialism
Three-field system
Clovis
Charlemagne
Feudalism
Magna Carta
Hundred Years’ War
Pope Urban II
Black Death