Question 1

The persecutions against Jews during the Black Death

Accepted Answer

The persecutions against Jews during the Black Death reached their worst excesses in German cities. While the Catholic church did promote anti-Semitic beliefs, the persecutions were primarily fueled by rumors that Jews were poisoning wells and causing the spread of the disease. These rumors were often spread by people looking to blame others for the epidemic and excuse their own behavior during the crisis. Financial motives also played a significant role in the persecutions as Jews were often prosperous merchants and moneylenders. However, the violence and brutality directed at the Jewish population during this time were largely driven by fear and superstition rather than economic gain.

Question 2

The flagellants

Accepted Answer

The flagellants were groups that physically punished themselves to win the forgiveness of God during the Black Death. They believed that their voluntary suffering would help to atone for the sins of humanity and bring an end to the plague. This movement was not praised by the Catholic church, and while it gained popularity during the Black Death, it eventually declined in the late 14th century. The flagellants were not only found in isolated rural areas, but also in urban centers.

Question 3

Economically, the great plague and the crises of the fourteenth century

Accepted Answer

The great plague caused a significant decrease in the population, leading to a scarcity of labor. As a result, wages for laborers increased, benefiting those who were able to find work. This had a significant impact on the economy, particularly in terms of the labor market. However, it also had negative effects on the feudal system, as landlords struggled to maintain their power and control over their estates without a sufficient labor force.

Question 4

A key economic consequence of the plague was

Accepted Answer

The decline of manorialism and weakening of feudalism as noble landlords converted peasant labor service to market rents freed their serfs was a key economic consequence of the plague. The shortage of labor caused by the plague created new opportunities for peasants to demand higher wages and better working conditions, leading to the downfall of the manorial system. This also helped to accelerate the growth of a money-based economy in Europe, as the demand for cash payments for labor increased.

Question 5

Post-plague socioeconomic relations between rich and poor in Europe

Accepted Answer

The answer of Post-plague socioeconomic relations between rich and poor...

Question 6

Merchants and manufacturers responded to the economic tribulations of the fourteenth century by

Accepted Answer

Merchants and manufacturers responded to economic tribulations of the fourteenth century by restricting competition and resisting the demands of the lower classes. They did this by forming guilds and monopolizing markets. They also resisted attempts to regulate prices or wages, which led to conflict with the lower classes.

Question 7

In the conduct of the Hundred Years' War, a sure sign of feudalism's decline was the

Accepted Answer

The Hundred Years' War saw a shift away from the reliance on mounted knights as the primary fighting force. Instead, the use of peasant foot soldiers, equipped with longbows or other ranged weapons, became increasingly important. This signaled a decline in the importance of feudalism's traditional reliance on knights and the chivalric code.

Question 8

The bubonic plague originated in

Accepted Answer

The bubonic plague originated in Asia. It is believed to have originated in the area now known as China and subsequently spread along trade routes to other parts of the world.

Question 9

One major issue behind the Hundred Years' War was a claim to the French throne by the English king

Accepted Answer

Edward III of England claimed the French throne through his mother, Isabella, who was the daughter of King Philip IV of France. The French nobility, however, favored Philip VI of Valois, who ultimately became king and rejected Edward's claim to the throne. This sparked the start of the Hundred Years' War in 1337.

Question 10

What was the main cause of the early fourteenth century famines?

Accepted Answer

The little ice age that induced bad weather with heavy rains was the main cause of the early fourteenth century famines. This led to crop failures and food shortages, causing widespread famine and starvation.

Question 11

The devastation of the great plague in the fourteenth century led to

Accepted Answer

The great plague, also known as the Black Death, killed between 75 and 200 million people in Eurasia in the mid-fourteenth century. The scale of death and suffering led many to view life as fragile and fleeting, and therefore cheap, which is reflected in the art, literature, and religious thought of the time. This led to a focus on individualism and a questioning of the Church, rather than an increase in religious piety or clergy. While the plague did lead to some decrease in crime, this was likely due to the fact that there were simply fewer people left alive to commit crimes. Overall, the devastation of the great plague had significant social and cultural impacts, particularly in how people thought about their place in the world and their relationship to death.

Question 12

The Black Death

Accepted Answer

The Black Death recurred in severe outbreaks for centuries, with some smaller outbreaks happening even after the major epidemic of the 14th century.

Question 13

The European aristocracy responded to the adversity of the great plague by

Accepted Answer

The European aristocracy responded to the labor shortages and social upheavals caused by the great plague (Black Death) by seeking to lower wages through legal means, especially for farm laborers. This was an attempt to maintain pre-plague economic conditions despite the drastically reduced workforce.

Question 14

All of the following were reactions to the great plague except

Accepted Answer

The great plague actually increased the persecution of religious minorities, particularly Jews who were blamed for the spread of the disease. The other options were all reactions to the great plague, including the increase in violence and murder, the formation of groups like the flagellants, preoccupation with death, and economic depression.

Question 15

The English Peasants' Revolt of 1381

Accepted Answer

The English Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was caused by the rising economic expectations of ordinary people, due to the Black Death causing a labor shortage, which increased the demand for workers and led to higher wages for peasants. The peasants demanded further improvements in their working and living conditions, which were not met in the long-term.

Question 16

The crucial battle of the Hundred Years' War that was won by Henry V in 1415 and that led to the treaty and apparent victory in the war for Henry and England was the Battle of

Accepted Answer

The Battle of Agincourt was a major victory for England in the Hundred Years' War, as depicted in Shakespeare's play Henry V. The English longbowmen played a crucial role in the victory over the French army, which was much larger in size. The battle marked a turning point in the war, and ultimately led to the Treaty of Troyes, which declared King Henry V to be the heir to the French throne.

Question 17

Among the adverse economic and population changes in fourteenth-century Europe were

Accepted Answer

All of the given options were adverse economic and population changes in fourteenth-century Europe. The shrinking peasant landholdings meant that they couldn't produce enough to support themselves, which led to migration from rural areas, which further contributed to the growth of urbanization, leading to rising numbers of poor people in cities.

Question 18

The French government and aristocracy responded to the Jacquerie by

Accepted Answer

The French government and aristocracy responded to the Jacquerie by massacring the participants, brutally suppressing the rebellion. This violent response demonstrated the entrenched nature of the feudal order and the determination of the elites to maintain their power and privileges.

Question 19

One decisive advantage that England had at the beginning of the Hundred Years' War was

Accepted Answer

The longbow was the key advantage for the English in the early stages of the Hundred Years' War. It had a longer range and faster rate of fire than the French crossbow, and skilled longbowmen could rain arrows down on the enemy with deadly accuracy. This gave the English a significant tactical advantage in the field.

Question 20

Pogroms were

Accepted Answer

Pogroms were organized massacres against the Jews, particularly in Eastern Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were often incited by false rumors and accusations of Jewish wrongdoing and resulted in destruction of property, injury, and death.

Quiz 11: The Later Middle Ages: Crisis and Disintegration in the Fourteenth Century