Question 1

Peter Abelard's colorful life included all of the following EXCEPT
A)an affair with his student Héloise who as a result entered a convent after giving birth to their child.
B)castration on the orders of Canon Fulbert.
C)a position as teacher of theology at the Cathedral School of Notre Dame.
D)execution as a heretic.
E)condemnation by the Church and confinement in a monastery.

Accepted Answer

Although Peter Abelard faced condemnation by the Church and confinement in a monastery, he was not executed as a heretic.

Question 2

In the realm of ideas and culture, Europe in the High Middle Ages
A)revived almost all the learning of the ancient world.
B)restored the dominance of rationalism in a system called scholasticism.
C)brought back a pure form of classical architecture.
D)nearly eliminated illiteracy.
E)fashioned Christian teachings into an all-embracing philosophy.

Accepted Answer

During the High Middle Ages, European scholars developed scholasticism, which sought to reconcile Christian theology with classical philosophy, particularly that of Aristotle, creating a comprehensive philosophical system.

Question 3

In the High Middle Ages, Christian contacts with Islamic culture were centered in
A)Alexandria.
B)Athens and Constantinople.
C)the Balkans.
D)Spain and Sicily.
E)the Holy Land.

Accepted Answer

During the High Middle Ages, Christian contacts with Islamic culture were centered in Spain and Sicily. The Islamic empire had conquered Spain and Sicily, and therefore the Christian kingdoms in those areas had frequent interactions with Islamic culture, including trade, scientific and philosophical exchange, and military conflict. This contact led to a transfer of knowledge, technology, and cultural ideas between the two civilization.

Question 4

The cultural revival of the High Middle Ages, known as the Twelfth-Century Awakening, did NOT include
A)the founding of universities.
B)the reemergence of the study of Latin and of Roman law.
C)efforts to harmonize Greek rationalism with Christian doctrines.
D)the creation of an original architectural style: Gothic.
E)a decline in the importance of vernacular literature.

Accepted Answer

The cultural revival of the High Middle Ages did not include a decline in the importance of vernacular literature. In fact, this period saw a flourishing of vernacular literature, such as troubadour poetry, chanson de geste, and Arthurian romances, among others.

Question 5

While scholastics believed that reason could illuminate faith (it could, for instance, prove the existence of God), their critics found reason dangerous because it
A)led people to question articles of faith.
B)was a "fabricator of heresies."
C)hindered a person's union with God.
D)could challenge the church's authority.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the above statements were concerns of the critics of scholasticism. Reason, when applied to religious doctrines, could lead individuals to question or doubt foundational beliefs, and in extreme cases, could even challenge the authority and power of the church. Additionally, some believed that excessive reliance on reason could hinder a person's spiritual connection with God. Ultimately, these critiques reflected broader debates over the relationship between faith and reason, and the proper role of both in shaping human thought and behavior.

Question 6

The Empyrean Heaven
A)was the abode of God and the Elect.
B)was the heavenly sphere through which God transmitted motion to the planetary spheres.
C)was composed of a clear transparent substance.
D)was subject to change and corruption.
E)all of the above

Accepted Answer

The Empyrean Heaven, in medieval cosmology, was considered the highest heaven, the abode of God and the Elect, and was not subject to change or corruption.

Question 7

That celestial bodies moved eternally in uniform circles was an idea of
A)Plutarch.
B)Archimedes.
C)Parmenides.
D)Aristotle.
E)Plato.

Accepted Answer

The idea that celestial bodies moved eternally in uniform circles was put forward by Aristotle in his work "On the Heavens".

Question 8

According to the text, the core of the medieval Christian worldview was that
A)God determined the rules for leading a good life and that conclusions derived from reason were secondary to divine revelation.
B)when reason and revelation seemed to be in conflict, individuals should follow the dictates of reason.
C)the Greco-Roman cultural heritage was pagan and hence should be rejected in favor of the divine revelations of Scripture.
D)each individual had to follow his or her own path to God.
E)the existence of a science of nature posed an insurmountable obstacle to the pursuit of grace and salvation.

Accepted Answer

The text states that the core of the medieval Christian worldview was that "God determined the rules for leading a good life and that conclusions derived from reason were secondary to divine revelation." This is best reflected in choice A.

Question 9

Medieval universities performed all the following functions EXCEPT
A)developing the habit of reasoned argument.
B)supplying states and the Church with trained secretaries and lawyers.
C)creating a significant variety of worldviews.
D)creating a common culture for all of Latin Christendom.
E)establishing a tradition of learning in the West.

Accepted Answer

Medieval universities did not necessarily promote a significant variety of worldviews, as their curriculum and teachings were largely based on Catholic theology and Aristotelian philosophy. While there were certainly debates and discussions among scholars, there was not necessarily a wide range of perspectives represented in the universities.

Question 10

At the heart of scholasticism lay the conviction that
A)reason and revelation can be reconciled.
B)scholarship needs to have a practical application.
C)the clergy, as the spiritual leaders of society, control the educational system.
D)education must be made available to all.
E)religion has no need of philosophy.

Accepted Answer

Scholasticism sought to reconcile reason and revelation, believing that philosophical inquiry could complement and deepen religious faith. This approach was central to the development of theology during the Middle Ages.

Question 11

The Benedictine abbot, Saint Anselm, was known for
A)writing the Summa Theologica .
B)a disreputable affair with Héloise which he eventually disavowed.
C)arguing that faith is the basis of philosophical speculation.
D)analyzing the Trinity in a way that angered churchmen.
E)synthesizing all of medieval learning.

Accepted Answer

Saint Anselm is known for his ontological argument for the existence of God, in which he argued that belief in God's existence is necessary to engage in philosophical reasoning. He believed that faith is the basis of all understanding and knowledge, and that reason alone cannot lead to a complete understanding of the divine.

Question 12

According to the text, all of the following works expressed the medieval sense that all of reality emanated from God and was purposely arranged in a spiritual hierarchy EXCEPT
A)The Divine Comedy .
B)The Song of Roland .
C)the Summa Theologica .
D)the Gothic cathedral.
E)Sic et Non.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, all of the...

Question 13

Which of the following did NOT help to make the Twelfth-Century Awakening possible?
A)the revival of trade and the reappearance of urban life
B)the Carolingian Renaissance
C)increased contacts with Byzantium and the Muslim world
D)a weakening of the Church's position in society
E)greater political and social order

Accepted Answer

The Twelfth-Century Awakening was facilitated by factors such as the revival of trade, increased cultural exchanges, and greater political stability. A weakening of the Church's position in society did not contribute to this intellectual and cultural revival.

Question 14

Which of the following does the text identify as the chief expression of expanding intellectual life in the High Middle Ages?
A)monastic schools
B)universities
C)cathedral schools
D)parish schools
E)royal courts

Accepted Answer

The text identifies universities as the chief expression of expanding intellectual life in the High Middle Ages, as they emerged as centers of learning and scholarship, producing intellectuals in various fields.

Question 15

During the High Middle Ages, the geocentric theory
A)refuted Aristotelian views.
B)offered basic geometry.
C)was imbued with Christian symbolism.
D)proposed that mathematics was the basic language of the universe.
E)was a new revolutionary theory.

Accepted Answer

During the High Middle Ages, the geocentric theory, which stated that the Earth was the center of the universe, was imbued with Christian symbolism. This was because the Catholic Church was a dominant force during this time and believed in a God-centered universe.

Question 16

The university subject considered queen of the sciences was
A)logic.
B)arithmetic.
C)music.
D)theology.
E)astronomy.

Accepted Answer

The subject considered queen of the sciences in medieval universities was theology, as it was seen as the highest and most noble of all subjects, encompassing both rational inquiry and religious truth.

Question 17

The establishment of medieval universities required
A)a corporation of either students or masters.
B)an aristocratic impetus.
C)royal supervision.
D)commercial leaders of the town who thought students might be good for business.
E)separate buildings and funding.

Accepted Answer

Medieval universities were often formed as corporations of students or masters, which were self-governing entities that organized the educational activities.

Question 18

The university curriculum of the Middle Ages
A)had an emphasis on practical skills.
B)relied heavily on the works of Aristotle.
C)neglected mathematics and astronomy.
D)stressed Roman law.
E)introduced the study of the arts.

Accepted Answer

The university curriculum of the Middle Ages relied heavily on the works of Aristotle. His ideas and philosophy were studied extensively in universities during this time.

Question 19

The medieval worldview held all the following EXCEPT
A)God was the source of all being and all knowledge.
B)God gave humanity the power to choose and to rise from the bottom of the cosmic hierarchy but only through God's grace and subordination to God's will.
C)God's will flows down to each individual through the angels and the church.
D)the worth of the individual comes from free will and intelligence, therefore, each person should follow Socrates' and the Stoic's search for knowledge and virtue.
E)humanity is higher than animals but still weak, egocentric, and sinful.

Accepted Answer

The medieval worldview emphasized the importance of God and the authority of the church in guiding human behavior. It did not put the same emphasis on individual worth based on free will and intelligence as this choice suggests. Instead, individuals were expected to submit to God's will and the teachings of the church.

Question 20

The early advocate of the emerging medieval scientific outlook who authored  Natural Questions  was
A)Saint Anselm.
B)Peter Abelard.
C)Maimonides.
D)Adelard of Bath.
E)Roger Bacon.

Accepted Answer

Adelard of Bath is the early advocate of the emerging medieval scientific outlook who authored Natural Questions. Saint Anselm was a theologian and philosopher, Peter Abelard was a logician and theologian, Maimonides was a Jewish philosopher, and Roger Bacon was a Franciscan friar who also advocated for the experimental scientific method.

Quiz 11: The Flowering of Medieval Culture the Christian Synthesis

Peter Abelard's colorful life included all of the following EXCEPT

In the realm of ideas and culture, Europe in the High Middle Ages

In the High Middle Ages, Christian contacts with Islamic culture were centered in

The cultural revival of the High Middle Ages, known as the Twelfth-Century Awakening, did NOT include

While scholastics believed that reason could illuminate faith (it could, for instance, prove the existence of God) , their critics found reason dangerous because it

The Empyrean Heaven

That celestial bodies moved eternally in uniform circles was an idea of

According to the text, the core of the medieval Christian worldview was that

Medieval universities performed all the following functions EXCEPT

At the heart of scholasticism lay the conviction that

The Benedictine abbot, Saint Anselm, was known for

According to the text, all of the following works expressed the medieval sense that all of reality emanated from God and was purposely arranged in a spiritual hierarchy EXCEPT

Which of the following did NOT help to make the Twelfth-Century Awakening possible?

Which of the following does the text identify as the chief expression of expanding intellectual life in the High Middle Ages?

During the High Middle Ages, the geocentric theory

The university subject considered queen of the sciences was

The establishment of medieval universities required

The university curriculum of the Middle Ages

The medieval worldview held all the following EXCEPT

The early advocate of the emerging medieval scientific outlook who authored Natural Questions was