Homework Questions for Weds, Thurs, Fri

Over the next month we will shift our focus away from the Islamic World and focus on Western Europe, and its' emergence out of the Middle Ages. As we study Medieval Europe we will see that there are wholly different political, economic, and social structures than those which were present in the Muslim World of the same time period. The Middle Ages are generally divided into two time periods: The Early Middle Ages (~500-1000) and The High and Late Middle Ages (~1000-1400). The first period was characterized by relative isolation, insecurity, and decentralization as Europe adapted to life without the structure of the Roman Empire. The Early Middle Ages are the period which is commonly referred to as "The Dark Ages", although this term is used less often as historians discover more about the period. During the High and Late Middle Ages a revitalization of long-distance trade and commerce, as well as a renewed emphasis on learning, began to chip away at feudal society. The final blow to the political, economic, and social structures of the Middle Ages came during the tumultuous 14th Century which was packed with disease, war, and challenges to the Catholic Church. As we will see over the course of this unit, these crises of the 14th Century brought the Middle Ages to a catastrophic end and ushered in the period known as the "Renaissance", or rebirth.

The first assignment for this unit is to read a historical essay which provides a brief outline for the Medieval period. As you read, please answer the following questions on your own sheet of paper:

1) What problems faced Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire?
2) How did the nobility and the church support each other?
3) How did "European unity disintegrate under Feudalism"?
4) In what ways were manors and guilds responsible for economic decisions?
5) According the reading, give a brief description of how the medieval Church was structured
6) Predict what impact the "Commercial Revolution" might have on the the political system of feudalism and the economic system of manorialism.

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The second assignment for this unit is to take a closer look at the social classes which were present in Europe during the Early Middle Ages. As you have read, social classes during the Middle Ages were very strict and there was very little social mobility. If your father was a serf, you would be a serf. If your father was a landowning noble, you would become a landowning noble. Historians often describe the social classes of the Middle Ages in the following way: "Those who fight, Those who work, Those who pray". As you read primary and secondary sources about the social classes of the Middle Ages, keep these divisions in mind.

Answer the following questions once you have read the primary and secondary sources:

1. Give a brief description of each of the three social classes. Include the role, status, and norms for each of the classes (to the best of your ability from the reading)

2. What qualities were important in determining a person's class during the Middle Ages?

3. How did the different social classes interact with each other?

4. How was the medieval social system similar to the medieval economic and political systems which you read about earlier?

5. Predict what values you think might be emphasized in a social system like the one described.

*Assignment #1 will be due on Friday, and Assignment #2 will be due on Monday. IF the girls basketball team ends up playing Friday during school hours, both can be turned in Monday. If you are in class during Thursday or Friday (while the rest of us are celebrating at the Tacoma Dome!), you will have all day in class to work on these two assignments. FRIDAY WILL BE A LECTURE DAY (unless a game gets in the way), SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE HERE.