Question 1

The most revolutionary of thirteenth and fourteenth-century inventions was/were

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Question 2

The bubonic plague never actually arrived in Europe, but is rather the perpetuation of a medieval myth taken too literally.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. The bubonic plague did arrive in Europe in the 14th century and caused a devastating epidemic known as the Black Death. The evidence of its existence and impact on European society is well-documented in historical records and contemporary accounts.

Question 3

Women benefited from the black death because

Accepted Answer

The Black Death led to a shortage of labor which created new employment opportunities for women. Many women entered previously male-dominated occupations such as weaving and trading, and some even became heads of households and business owners.

Question 4

Ars moriendi refers to the

Accepted Answer

"Ars moriendi" literally translates to "the art of dying." It refers to a genre of medieval Christian literature and art aimed at providing guidance on how to cope with death and dying.

Question 5

It is estimated that famine in the early fourteenth century killed 35 percent of the European population.

Accepted Answer

Famine in the early fourteenth century, also known as the Great Famine, resulted in widespread food shortages and malnutrition, but it did not kill 35 percent of the European population. The exact number of deaths is uncertain, but it is estimated to be between 5-15 percent of the population.

Question 6

In France, after the papacy was moved to Avignon, the clergy were reduced in rank to being only the Third Estate.

Accepted Answer

While the papacy was moved to Avignon, the clergy were still considered part of the First Estate, which also included the nobility.

Question 7

The fifteenth century theologian who claimed that reason could not prove spiritual truth was

Accepted Answer

Occam is known for his philosophy of nominalism, which held that universals (such as abstract concepts) are not real, but rather mere names or labels given to groups of similar individual things. He also believed that spiritual truth cannot be proven by reason alone, but rather requires faith.

Question 8

Dante's Divine Comedy

Accepted Answer

Dante's Divine Comedy is regarded as a comprehensive representation of medieval Christian thought, as it explains Christian theology and ethics through allegory and symbolism. It also reflects the influence of medieval scholasticism and Thomism.

Question 9

Because of the resulting economic depression, the price of labor was drastically reduced in the aftermath of the Black Death.

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Question 10

Christine de Pizan agreed that killing Joan of Arc had been a good idea, as this execution protected the proper ideal of women everywhere.

Accepted Answer

There is no evidence that Christine de Pizan ever expressed such an opinion. In fact, she wrote in support of women's rights and empowerment, and her work The Book of the City of Ladies praises Joan of Arc as an example of a courageous and virtuous woman.

Question 11

All medical books, even after the impact of the Black Death, continued to be written in Latin and all were highly theoretical rather than being practical.

Accepted Answer

After the Black Death, medical books began to be written in vernacular languages as well, and there was a shift towards more practical, observation-based medicine alongside the traditional theoretical approach.

Question 12

Changed urban attitudes in the fourteenth century included

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Question 13

All of the following are correct about Petrarch except he

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Question 14

After the Black Death, money payments were increasingly substituted for military service in the lord-vassal relationship.

Accepted Answer

With the decrease in population after the Black Death, lords were unable to rely on vassals to provide military service. Instead, they began accepting money payments in exchange for their feudal obligations. This led to the rise of a cash-based economy and the decline of the feudal system.

Question 15

Among the great and influential female religious mystics of the fourteenth century was

Accepted Answer

Catherine of Siena was a highly influential female religious mystic in the fourteenth century, known for her spiritual writings and her role in advocating for church reform. She was also known for her visions, which she believed were gifts from God. She was eventually canonized as a saint in 1461.

Question 16

In contradiction to Thomas Aquinas, William of Occam claimed that the truths of religion could not be proved by reason but could be accepted only by faith.

Accepted Answer

William of Occam believed in the principle of simplicity (often called Occam's Razor), which stated that the simplest explanation or theory should be chosen over more complex ones. He believed that reason alone could not prove the truths of religion, and that they must be accepted on faith.

Question 17

The Visconti family ruled the Duchy of Milan throughout most of the fourteenth century.

Accepted Answer

The Visconti family did indeed rule the Duchy of Milan for most of the 14th century, from 1277 until 1447.

Question 18

Concerning parent-child relationships in the Middle Ages

Accepted Answer

Parent-child relationships during the Middle Ages were characterized by a strong emphasis on the importance of family and children. Parents lavished considerable attention and affection on their offspring, with some even going so far as to hire wet nurses to breastfeed their infants. The high infant mortality rate during this time meant that parents often had to deal with the loss of one or more of their children, which could lead to extreme grief and emotional distress. Nonetheless, the bond between parent and child was a deeply valued one during the Middle Ages.

Question 19

One of France's advantages toward the end of the Hundred Years' War was its adoption of cannon.

Accepted Answer

The adoption of cannon by the French was a significant advantage against the English in the later stages of the Hundred Years' War.

Question 20

What was Boccaccio's most famous work?

Accepted Answer

Boccaccio's most famous work is The Decameron, a collection of 100 tales told by a group of young people who have fled Florence to escape the Black Death. The tales cover a wide range of topics, from love and lust to deceit and revenge, and provide a fascinating glimpse into medieval Italian society.

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