Question 1

The technique of interlace is best associated with what topic or term?

Accepted Answer

The technique of interlace involves the intricate weaving together of decorative elements, which is a hallmark of Hiberno-Saxon manuscript illumination. This technique can be seen in works such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and is a distinctive feature of Insular art. Romanesque sculpture, musical notation, and the rise of feudalism are not directly associated with interlace.

Question 2

Which statement is best associated with the Viking age?

Accepted Answer

The Viking age is best associated with Norse raiders who plundered much of Christian Europe during this period.

Question 3

What European leader nurtured a rebirth or flowering of early medieval culture centered at his palace on the Rhine River?

Accepted Answer

Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, was the European leader who nurtured a rebirth or flowering of early medieval culture centered at his palace on the Rhine River. He sponsored the Carolingian Renaissance, which was a revival of learning and culture that brought about a flowering of arts, literature, and education across the Frankish Empire.

Question 4

Which was an important accomplishment of Alcuin of York's at the court of Charlemagne?

Accepted Answer

Alcuin of York was a scholar and educator who introduced important reforms to the educational system at the court of Charlemagne. He established a curriculum that included liberal arts and the study of Latin and Greek, which became the model for medieval education. He also helped to establish a network of schools and libraries throughout the realm, which contributed to the development of a more educated and literate society.

Question 5

Who was recruited from an English monastery to lead Charlemagne's palace school at Aachen?

Accepted Answer

Alcuin of York was recruited from England to lead Charlemagne's palace school at Aachen.

Question 6

What Norman leader won a military victory at the Battle of Hastings that is celebrated in the Bayeux Tapestry?

Accepted Answer

The Norman leader who won the famous military victory at the Battle of Hastings and is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry is William the Conqueror. Constantine, Charlemagne, and Charles Martel, while significant historical figures, did not have a role in the Battle of Hastings.

Question 7

What kind of person would most likely have sung the Song of Roland?

Accepted Answer

The Song of Roland is a chanson de geste, a type of epic poem that was traditionally sung or recited by Norman minstrels in the 11th and 12th centuries. The Norman minstrels were professional entertainers who traveled around performing their songs for various audiences, and the Song of Roland was one of their most popular works.

Question 8

Which term or phrase is best associated with the Song of Roland?

Accepted Answer

The Song of Roland is a chanson de geste, a type of epic poem in medieval French literature that typically recounts heroic deeds and battles.

Question 9

Which term is best associated with the flowering of civilization in Muslim Spain at the capitals of Cordoba and Granada?

Accepted Answer

The term "al-Andalus" specifically refers to Muslim Spain and its culture, including the flourishing of civilization at the capitals of Cordoba and Granada. Choices A, B, and D do not accurately describe this historical period in Spain.

Question 10

Which of these figures composed an influential set of rules for Christian monks?

Accepted Answer

St. Benedict composed the influential set of rules known as the Rule of Saint Benedict, which served as a guide for Christian monks in the Western world.

Question 11

In the literary works of Hrotsvit of Gandersheim, what author had the most influence?

Accepted Answer

Hrotsvit of Gandersheim was heavily influenced by the Roman comic dramatist Terence, whose works she adapted and emulated in her own writing.

Question 12

What kind of scene would most likely be depicted in a stone mural of the Classic Maya period?

Accepted Answer

Ritual blood sacrifice was a common theme in Classic Maya art and was often depicted in stone murals. The other options, such as the crucifixion of Christ or the birth of the Buddha, are not typically depicted in Classic Maya art. The Norman cavalry in battle is also not relevant to the Maya civilization.

Question 13

Which of these is best cited as an example of the Romanesque style?

Accepted Answer

The bronze doors of Hildesheim are considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque art and architecture, featuring intricate relief scenes from the Bible and Christian history.

Question 14

Which statement best describes the third church of the abbey of Cluny (Cluny III)?

Accepted Answer

The third church of the abbey of Cluny (Cluny III) was the centerpiece of an influential monastic network.

Question 15

Which describes distinguishing feature(s) of the medieval Romanesque style in architecture?

Accepted Answer

The distinguishing feature(s) of the medieval Romanesque style in architecture are rounded arches and barrel vaults, which are characteristic of this style. The other options are not specific to the Romanesque style. Highly decorated domed interiors are more characteristic of the Byzantine style, a rectangular nave without transept is more characteristic of early Christian architecture, and exteriors decorated with marble and bronze are more characteristic of Renaissance architecture.

Question 16

Imagine that you are a medieval pilgrim entering a church to view the sacred relics displayed in the chapels that radiate from the apse. Entering from one end of the transept, what would you want to find to reach your destination?

Accepted Answer

The pilgrim would want to find the ambulatory, which is a covered walkway that leads around the apse and provides access to the chapels where the sacred relics are displayed. The west portal is the main entrance to the church, but it would not necessarily lead directly to the chapels with the relics. The narthex is the entrance area of the church, and the clerestory is a high windowed section of the nave, neither of which would provide direct access to the chapels where the relics are kept.

Question 17

Which would have decorated the portal of a Romanesque church?

Accepted Answer

Tympanum sculptures were a common feature on the portals of Romanesque churches. They were typically carved reliefs depicting scenes from the Bible or depicting Christ or the Apostles. Monophonic melisma refers to a style of chant and would not have been a physical decoration. Manuscript illumination refers to decorative artwork within books, not on church portals. Trivium relief is not a commonly used term and does not refer to a specific type of decoration.

Question 18

Where would one find a carved scene of Christ at the Last Judgment judging the righteous and sinful?

Accepted Answer

The depiction of Christ at the Last Judgment judging the righteous and sinful is a common theme in Romanesque art and can often be found carved on the tympanum (the semicircular space above the doorway) of Romanesque churches. The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter-long embroidered cloth depicting the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and does not include this scene. The Song of Roland is an epic poem from the 11th century that does not feature this scene. Feudal oaths of loyalty did not typically describe scenes from the Bible.

Question 19

In or on which of these would one most likely find the bones of a Christian saint?

Accepted Answer

Christian saints' bones were often preserved and venerated in reliquaries, which were often placed on the altar of pilgrimage churches. Reliquaries were typically ornate and made of precious materials such as gold and jewels, making them highly visible and valuable objects of veneration. The other options listed are not typically associated with the preservation of saints' bones.

Question 20

In or on which of these would one expect to find a trope?

Accepted Answer

A trope is a vocal embellishment of a plainchant, specifically in the Gregorian chant tradition. Therefore, one would expect to find a trope in the singing of a Gregorian chant. The other choices are all examples of visual art or architecture, in which one would not typically find tropes.

Quiz 5: The Early Middle Ages