Question 1

What event did Jewish populations face as prejudices solidified?

Accepted Answer

Jewish populations faced expulsion from certain European kingdoms as prejudices against them solidified. This included events such as the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290, Spain in 1492, and Portugal in 1497.

Question 2

William of Ockham was a philosopher associated with the _________ Order.

Accepted Answer

Franciscan

Question 3

What does the theory of "Ockham's Razor" assert?

Accepted Answer

Ockham's Razor asserts that the simplest answer is most likely the truest. It suggests that when faced with multiple explanations or hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be preferred.

Question 4

Of what heresy did William of Ockham accuse the Church?

Accepted Answer

William of Ockham accused the Church of rejecting the doctrine of evangelical poverty, which held that the Church and its clergy should not accumulate wealth. This led to a conflict with Pope John XXII, who claimed that the Church had the right to hold property and rejected the idea of absolute poverty for the clergy. Ockham's beliefs were considered heretical, and he was excommunicated from the Church.

Question 5

Why did John of Paris' ideas have such an impact on Marsilius of Padua?

Accepted Answer

Marsilius of Padua was a witness to the papal-imperial conflict while serving as the physician to Emperor Louis IV in the early 14th century. John of Paris' ideas on the role of papal authority in political matters, as well as the separation of temporal and spiritual power, greatly influenced Marsilius as he sought to reconcile the ongoing conflict between the pope and the emperor.

Question 6

In Defensor pacis, Marsilius of Padua relied heavily on the theories of the philosopher ___________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Defensor pacis, Marsilius of Padua relied...

Question 7

According to Marsilius of Padua, what group comprised the "true Church"?

Accepted Answer

According to Marsilius of Padua, the "true Church" was not represented by any specific institution or group. Rather, it was comprised of the entire community of believers, who collectively shared the responsibility for interpreting and living out the teachings of Christianity. This view was in direct opposition to the traditional Catholic doctrine, which held that the pope and his bureaucracy were the sole source of religious authority.

Question 8

What is the premise of Dante's Divine Comedy?

Accepted Answer

The Divine Comedy is a poem by Dante Alighieri, which follows the narrator, Dante himself, as he journeys through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. The poem is a moralizing journey, with each realm representing different levels of sin and virtue. Throughout the journey, Dante meets various historical and mythological figures and explores themes of redemption, the afterlife, and Catholic theology.

Question 9

Dante's idealized feelings for Beatrice fall into the category of the literary conceit of _____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dante's idealized feelings for Beatrice fall into...

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why Dante constructed purgatory as a mountain?

Accepted Answer

Dante constructed purgatory as a mountain to suggest that one could slowly climb out of sin towards heaven. The souls in purgatory ascend the mountain of purgatory, conquering the sins and obstacles that they encounter along the way, until they are purified and ready to enter Heaven.

Question 11

How did Dante functionally reorder the universe to reflect his own vision?

Accepted Answer

Dante structured the afterlife in his Divine Comedy according to his own vision and placed famous and historical figures in Hell, Purgatory, or Heaven based on his moral judgments. This reordering of the universe represents his belief in the hierarchy of sins and virtues, as well as his political and theological views.

Question 12

In addition to being an author, what role did Chaucer hold in medieval society?

Accepted Answer

Chaucer held various government positions during his lifetime, including serving as a courtier-diplomat, which involved him in the political and social life of medieval England.

Question 13

Which of the following seminal works did Chaucer translate on his path to becoming a writer? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Chaucer translated "The Romance of the Rose" and "The Consolation of Philosophy," which were significant influences on his development as a writer. "The Romance of the Rose" was a medieval French poem that was widely popular in Chaucer's time, and "The Consolation of Philosophy" by Boethius was a philosophical work that had a profound impact on medieval thought, including Chaucer's own works.

Question 14

The pilgrims in Canterbury Tales were on their way to visit the shrine of St. ________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The pilgrims in Canterbury Tales were on...

Question 15

From which author did Chaucer inherit the conceit of storytelling as a literary framework?

Accepted Answer

Chaucer's masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, was heavily influenced by Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron, which also used a storytelling framework. Boccaccio's work was well-known and widely read in medieval England, and it was likely that Chaucer was familiar with it when he conceived of The Canterbury Tales.

Question 16

What was Chaucer's general worldview, as seen in Canterbury Tales?

Accepted Answer

Throughout Canterbury Tales, Chaucer portrays a world characterized by instability, changeability, and general impermanence. However, the characters in the tales still find moments of joy and connection, suggesting that even in a world of flux, happiness is still possible. This suggests a worldview that sees the world as fundamentally unstable and changeable but also believes that joy can be found in spite of that.

Question 17

What is Christine de Pizan foremost remembered as?

Accepted Answer

Christine de Pizan is best remembered as the first professional woman writer in Europe, as she produced numerous works on various topics such as politics, ethics, and women's rights during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. While she was well-educated and patronized by royal courts, these achievements are not what she is primarily remembered for. She was also not the first medically trained woman in Europe.

Question 18

What historical event most shaped Christine de Pizan's writing?

Accepted Answer

Christine de Pizan lived during the Hundred Years War, a period of conflict between England and France. This war greatly influenced her writing, as she aimed to defend and promote the role of women in society during a time when they were often marginalized and overlooked. Her most famous book, "The Book of the City of Ladies," was written in response to the misogyny and sexism prevalent in the literature of the time, and can be seen as a direct result of the societal issues she experienced during the Hundred Years War.

Question 19

As seen in her rebuttal to The Romance of the Rose, what message did Christine de Pizan put forth in her writings?

Accepted Answer

Christine de Pizan's writings aimed at challenging the traditional beliefs and stereotypes associated with women during her time. She advocated for the recognition of women's worth, value, and presence in society. Pizan called out the authors of The Romance of the Rose in her rebuttal for promoting misogynistic views and argued that they were not only false but also harmful to women's rights and freedoms. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Question 20

What was the subject of Christine de Pizan's final work before her death?

Accepted Answer

Christine de Pizan's final work was a biography of Joan of Arc titled "The Tale of Joan of Arc".

Quiz 18: Signs of a New Era