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Chapter 17 Study Guide – The Early Middle Ages
1. What geographic features covers southern Europe and which covers northern Europe?
Southern – mountains Northern – flat plains
2. What did northern Europeans do for a living? Because they lived on rich, fertile plains they
farmed.
3. How did peninsulas affect how people lived? They became seafarers and traders.
4. How did the geography of northern Europe affect Christianity? The flat land made it easier
for missionaries to travel there.
5. What role did rivers contribute do the development of feudalism? Viking attacks on inland.
6. How did the geography of Northern and Southern Europe affect invasions? Northern Europe
was invaded more than southern because of the flat plains, southern was mountainous.
7. Name the three people who were responsible for spreading Christianity.
Pope, missionaries, monks
8. Name three ways monks contributed to medieval society. Running schools, collecting ancient
writings, serving as scribes to rulers
9. Name the 4 parts of the feudal pyramid and their responsibilities.
1. King 2. Lord 3. Knights or Vassals 4. Serfs
10. Why did the manor system evolve? Knights couldn’t work their own fields
11.What would have happened if the Vikings or Muslims didn’t invade? Nobles wouldn’t have
needed knights to defend them.
12. What was the result of Europe’s population increase during the Middle Ages? feudalism
declined
13. What caused the growth of European cities during the middle ages? Increase in population
and trade
14. Similarity between Knights and Samurai? They both pledged loyalty to lords
15. What connection can you make between religion and feudalism? Feudalism could operate in
societies with different religions.
topography: shape and elevation of land in a region
Eurasia: Europe and Asia landmass combined; Ural Mountains separates the two continents
St. Patrick: Converted Irish to Christianity
Charlemagne: He built a European empire and was crowned emperor. Built many schools.
Vikings: Invaders from Scandinavia
Magyar: Viking leader whose invasions to Europe help set up feudalism.
fief: piece of land given to knights as payments
manor: A large estate owned by a king or lord.
serfs: A worker who was tied to the land.
William the Conqueror: Brought feudalism to Britain because of his invasion.
Frankish knights: Introduced feudalism to Italy.
horse collar: Allowed farmers to use horses to plow fields.
St. Benedict: Most European Monks followed his rule
Medieval: Latin for Middle Age
Peasant: a small farmer who did not own land.
Chivalry: A code of honorable behavior