Medieval Ages - General

Multiple choice questions. Choose the best answer.

1. In the early Middle Ages, Clovis ruled
   
   

   a) the Saxons.
   b) the Ostrogoths.
   c) the Visogoths
   d) the Franks.




2. The Battle of Tours in 732 was significant because
   
   

   a) Charles Martel became King of France.
   b) Muslims gained control of Spain.
   c) it stopped the Muslim advance into Europe.
   d) Charlemagne converted many Muslims to Christianity.




3. Charlemagne's empire included
   
   

   a) Spain, Italy and France.
   b) large parts of the western Roman empire.
   c) most of the eastern and western Roman empire.
   d) Britain, France and Italy.




4. Charlemagne encouraged unity in his empire by
   
   

   a) supporting Christian missionaries.
   b) choosing his eldest son as his heir.
   c) making Rome his capital.
   d) introducing the feudal system.




5. Following the death of Charlemagne, Europe was invaded by
   
   

   a) Vikings, Magyars and Huns.
   b) Moslems, Vikings and Magyars.
   c) Huns, Moslems and Vikings.
   d) Magyars, Huns and Moslems.




6. The beginning of the medieval period is
   
   

   a) 1000.
   b) 1066.
   c) 1340.
   d) 1485.




7. The system of landlording which William the Conquerer introduced into England was known as
   
   

   a) the fiefdom system.
   b) the lord and vassal system.
   c) the feudal system.
   d) the Church lands.




8. The feudal contract was an arrangement by which
   
   

   a) a lord pledged to obey his vassal.
   b) a vassal could become a knight.
   c) a vassal agreed to follow the code of chivalry.
   d) a lord and vassals each agreed to certain obligations.




9. All of the following were obligations of the serfs EXCEPT
   
   

   a) paying rent on the land they farmed.
   b) repairing the lord's castle.
   c) providing 40 days of military service.
   d) working on the lord's desmesne.




10. During the Middle Ages, farming improved when peasants began
    
    

    a) raising sheep and selling the wool.
    b) using windmills to grind grain.
    c) moving onto church lands.
    d) using the three-field system.




11. The economy during the feudal period centred on
    
    

    a) agriculture.
    b) money.
    c) trade and commerce.
    d) manufacturing.




12. The most numerous type of people in feudal society were
    
    

    a) lords.
    b) knights.
    c) monks.
    d) serfs.




13. Feudalism became a complex system because
    
    

    a) feudal kings had absolute power.
    b) vassals often owed loyalty to more than one lord.
    c) knights did not contribute to their lord's ransom.
    d) the church supported the serfs.




14. Some of the finest examples of medieval architecture can be seen in
    
    

    a) cathedrals.
    b) castles.
    c) homes of townspeople.
    d) universities.




15. What was the main reason for the decline of castles?
    
    

    a) expensive construction
    b) gradual growth of law and order
    c) invention of gunpowder
    d) lack of good stone




16. Townspeople wanted written charters in order to
    
    

    a) protect their rights.
    b) limit the power of the king.
    c) end feudalism.
    d) keep runaway serfs out of towns.




17. From 1100 to 1300, trade increased in western Europe mainly because
    
    

    a) church lands were confiscated.
    b) a "money economy" replaced the barter system.
    c) trade with the Far East was profitable.
    d) peasants began using the three-field system.




18. Early banking services encouraged trade by
    
    

    a) enabling merchants to travel without carrying gold coins.
    b) making loans available without interest.
    c) printing paper money.
    d) allowing serfs to borrow money.




19. By the 1300, a growing money economy had affected life on the manor by
    
    

    a) making manors more self-sufficient.
    b) allowing serfs to pay rent in money rather than services.
    c) forcing lords to move into towns.
    d) improving relations between the lords and townspeople.




20. The Hanseatic League was formed mainly to
    
    

    a) expand the guild system.
    b) end warfare among feudal lords.
    c) promote trade among cities in northern Europe.
    d) encourage trade fairs in Champagne and Flanders.




21. The main purpose of craft guilds was to
    
    

    a) sponsor trade fairs.
    b) write town charters.
    c) train and protect guild members.
    d) encourage competition among guild members.

Answer key	1. d	6. b	11. a	16. a	21. c
	2. c	7. c	12. d	17. b
	3. b	8. d	13. b	18. a
	4. d	9. c	14. a	19. b
	5. b	10. d	15. c	20. c

Compiling such a data bank is an ongoing process. Comments and contributions are appreciated by those persons who use this resource.

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