Medival Society Test #1

The first two letters in the Greek word for "Christ", forming a symbol adopted by Constantine after a divine vision.

Constantine's battle cry "In this sign you will conquer" was granted to him by God in a vision and became a rallying cry for his armies.

The official declaration by Constantine in 313 CE that made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire, ending persecution.

The Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325 CE, defined fundamental beliefs and structure of the Christian Church. Its decrees continue to shape Christian doctrine today.

The elite, highly mobile field armies of the Roman Emperor, known for their superior training and equipment, including armored cavalry.

The event when the Goths, a Germanic tribe, conquered Rome in 410 CE. This marked the first time Rome had been captured in 800 years and was a significant psychological blow.

A warrior and king known for his brutal raids across Europe. He led the Huns, a powerful nomadic group, and ravaged Italy in the 450s CE.

The brutal sacking of Rome in 455 CE by the Vandals, a Germanic tribe. This event was so destructive it gave rise to the term 'Vandalism', meaning deliberate destruction of property.

The last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, who was deposed in 476 CE. His removal by Odoacer, a German general, is seen as a symbolic end of the Roman Empire in the West.

A German general who deposed Romulus Augustulus in 476 CE, effectively ending the Western Roman Empire. He declared himself King of Italy and marked the beginning of the 'Dark Ages'.

Theodoric, a Germanic Ostrogoth king, became the ruler of Italy after assassinating Odoacer in 493 CE. Considered the first medieval king in Europe.

The period following the decline of the Roman Empire in the West, marked by a shift in power and culture. This era saw the influx of Germanic tribes and the rise of new kingdoms in Europe.

The merging of Roman and Germanic cultures. Germanic tribes adopted Roman institutions and styles. They were influenced by Roman law codes, used Roman coins, and promoted Roman ideas of kingship.

A social system based on land ownership and loyalty, where a lord grants a fief (land) to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty.

A grant of land, given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service and loyalty.

The obligations and duties between different social groups in a feudal society.

Knights were part of a culture that emphasized chivalry, a code of conduct that included honor, loyalty, and bravery.

The Church held vast lands and had its own army of knights who served to protect its interests.

Constantine I moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. This shift marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire, which later became a major center of culture and religion.

To ensure a steady workforce, Constantine instituted hereditary occupations. This meant that a person's profession was determined by their family's history, and it was often literally tattooed onto their bodies.

Under Theodosius I, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. This marked a major turning point in history, as it led to the decline of paganism and the rise of Christian influence in society.

Theodosius I allowed Germanic tribes, particularly the Goths, to settle within the Roman Empire, hoping to prevent war and recruit them as soldiers. This led to a significant increase in Germanic influence in the Roman military, contributing to the eventual decline of the Western Empire.

The reign of Theodosius I marked the permanent division of the Roman Empire into the Eastern (Byzantine) and Western Empires. This split had lasting consequences, as the two empires developed distinct cultures and power dynamics.

The reforms of Diocletian, Constantine, and Theodosius laid the groundwork for the Middle Ages. Their policies such as feudalism, knightly orders, guild systems, and the growth of Christianity shaped the societies of medieval Europe.

The Roman withdrawal from Britain in 409 CE to defend Gaul marked a pivotal moment in British history, leaving the island vulnerable to invasion. This event is believed to have inspired the legendary tales of King Arthur and his knights, demonstrating the impact of Roman decline on British culture.

The decline of the Western Roman Empire was a gradual process marked by various factors, including economic instability, political turmoil, and the rise of Germanic tribes. The withdrawal of Roman troops from Britain in 409 CE was a key moment in this decline, symbolizing a loss of power and control.

A term used to describe people from Scandinavia, specifically those who engaged in raiding and exploration during the Viking Age (8th to 11th centuries). It's important to note that it's not a specific ethnicity, but rather a term describing their actions.

Elite warriors serving as bodyguards for kings, jarls (earls), or chieftains. They were highly skilled in combat and typically wore full chainmail.

The belief system of the Norse people, which involved a pantheon of gods and goddesses. It emphasized warrior culture and a belief in death and rebirth in Valhalla.

Long, narrow ships used by the Vikings for warfare, exploration, and trade. They were propelled by oars and sails, allowing them to travel long distances.

Raids conducted by Vikings, often targeting monasteries due to their wealth, lack of defenses, and isolation. These raids were a significant part of the Viking Age.

A period in English history marked by Viking raids and settlements. It began in the 9th century and ended with the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The treaty signed in 885-886 between King Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum the Dane, establishing the Danelaw. The Danelaw was a region in northern England where Norse law and culture prevailed.

The battle that marked the end of the Viking Age and the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England. It was fought on October 14, 1066, and saw the victory of Duke William of Normandy over King Harold of Wessex.

The region in northern France where the Norse (Vikings) settled after being granted land by King Charles the Simple in 911. The region became known as Normandy, meaning 'land of the Northmen.'

An elite military unit composed of Vikings, serving as the bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor. The Varangian Guard was established in 911 and played an important role in Byzantine politics and warfare.

The "ideal" of Rome continued to be praised by late Latin poets, despite the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and the continuation of the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Eastern Roman Empire, which continued after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople.

Historians refer to the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire.

Justinian's Code is a collection of Roman legal writings that became the basis of modern Western law.

The Code, part of Justinian's Code, was published in 529 and revised in 534, containing all Roman laws in use at that time.

The Institutes, a part of Justinian's Code, was a legal textbook for law students.

The Novels, a part of Justinian's Code, were laws written by Justinian himself.

Justinian's re-conquest of Italy, a war against the Ostrogoths, devastated northern and central Italy.

The Islamic religion was founded in 622 CE by Muhammad of Mecca, creating a new dynamic force in history.

Muslims are those who submit to the will of God.

The split within Islam in 655-661 CE between Sunnis and Shi'ites marked a division over the nature of leadership after the Prophet Muhammad's death.

The Franks, a Germanic tribe, helped the Romans defeat Attila's Huns at the Battle of Chalons in 452 CE.

The Merovingians were the first dynasty of Frankish Kings.

Clovis I, the first Merovingian king with historical proof, defeated the Roman commander Syagrius in 486 CE, marking the end of Roman rule in Gaul.

The Salic Code was the first written Frankish law code, created by Clovis I around 507-511 CE.

The period in Roman history (235-284 CE) marked by political instability, constant warfare, economic decline, and social upheaval, leading to the decline of the Roman Empire.

Short-lived Roman emperors who often came to power through military force and gained control through the support of the army.

Mass migrations of Germanic tribes, driven by war, famine, or seeking new lands, contributed significantly to the instability and eventual fall of the Roman Empire.

A system of government established by Diocletian in 293 CE, dividing the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western halves, each ruled by two emperors (one Augustus and one Caesar).

The emperor Diocletian's reorganization of Roman provinces into more manageable units of roughly equal size, increasing the number from around 50 to over 100.

The reforms introduced by Diocletian (284-305 CE) to address the Crisis of the 3rd Century, including the Tetrarchy, provincial reorganization, and military restructuring.

The emperor Constantine I, the first Christian emperor, who defeated his rivals in 312 CE at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, and eventually made Christianity legal throughout the Roman Empire.

A significant battle in 312 CE where Constantine, with a vision of a Christian symbol (Chi-Rho), defeated his rival Maxentius, leading to Constantine's rise to power as the Augustus of the West, and marking a significant moment in the Christianization of the Roman Empire.

Constantine I's move of the Roman capital from Rome to Byzantium in 330 CE, renaming it Constantinople. This marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire, which grew in power and influence.

Constantine, the first Roman Emperor to adopt the "Chi-Rho" symbol, placed it on his army's shields and Labarum (battle standard) before a battle. This display of support for Christianity, a popular but illegal religion at the time, inspired many of his soldiers who were "closet Christians."

The Limitanei were the less well-equipped frontier armies charged with defending the Roman Empire's borders. They served as a first line of defense, while the Comitatenses were the mobile reserve force.

A European farming community, often a city, town, or village, develops as a central hub, surrounded by cultivated farmland used for agricultural production.

The climate of Southern Europe, ideal for crops like spelt, wheat, barley, olives, and grapes, offers mild winters, suitable for olive cultivation, and ample moisture for grape growth, even during summer droughts.

Northern European climate primarily supports grains like spelt, wheat, barley, oats, and rye, alongside beans and peas. Grapes are cultivated in warmer areas, while olives are replaced with butter for oil due to the colder climate.

Typical agricultural techniques used in ancient Southern Europe, where thin, dry, and sandy soil is easily plowed using the Roman scratch-plough, drawn by oxen, called the aratrum or ard.

Wheat held higher desirability, but barley, oats, and rye were easier to cultivate and grow in the varying climates of Early Medieval Europe (500-1000 CE).

A code of conduct that emphasized honor, loyalty, and bravery, often associated with knights.

Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, was the Roman Emperor who moved the Empire's capital from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople in 330 CE. This relocation marked a pivotal shift in the history of the Roman Empire and laid the foundations for the Byzantine Empire.

Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was the last Roman Emperor to rule over a united Empire. During his reign, Christianity was established as the official religion of Rome in 380 CE. He also banned paganism and closed pagan temples, effectively marking a turning point in the religious landscape of the Roman Empire.

The period characterized by the reigns of Diocletian, Constantine, and Theodosius is often considered the birthing ground of the Middle Ages. Their reforms laid the groundwork for key medieval institutions, social structures, and cultural trends, impacting the future course of European history.

The decline of the Western Roman Empire was a gradual process with multiple contributing factors. The decision of the Romans to withdraw their troops from Britain in 409 CE to defend Gaul proved crucial in this decline, leaving Britain vulnerable and potentially contributing to the emergence of legendary figures like King Arthur.

Occupations within the Roman Empire became hereditary during the reign of Constantine I. This meant that a person's profession was dictated by their family's history, often marked by tattoos. This system aimed to ensure a stable workforce, though it restricted social mobility.

Theodosius I, aiming to quell conflict and potentially recruit new troops, allowed Germanic tribes, notably the Goths, to settle within the Roman Empire. This policy, while intended for peace, drastically increased Germanic influence within the Roman army and contributed to the empire's eventual decline.

Theodosius I, the last emperor to rule a unified Roman Empire, permanently divided it into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. This division, with lasting consequences, marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire in the East, distinct from the Western Roman Empire.

The reforms enacted during the reigns of Diocletian, Constantine, and Theodosius laid the groundwork for the Middle Ages. These reforms included the introduction of feudalism and knighthood, the construction of castles, the rise of guilds and serfdom, and the establishment of boundaries for future nation-states.

A group of Vikings, a term referring to their actions like raiding and exploration, not their ethnicity.

Elite warriors who served as bodyguards for Viking kings, jarls, or chieftains. They were highly skilled in combat and typically wore full chainmail.

The belief system of the Norse people, involving a pantheon of gods and goddesses. It emphasized warrior culture and a belief in death and rebirth in Valhalla.

Long, narrow ships used by the Vikings for warfare, exploration, and trade. They were propelled by oars and sails, allowing them to travel long distances.

Raids conducted by Vikings, often targeting monasteries due to their wealth, lack of defenses, and isolation. These raids were a significant part of the Viking Age.

A period in English history marked by Viking raids and settlements. It began in the 9th century and ended with the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The treaty signed in 885-886 between King Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum the Dane, establishing the Danelaw. The Danelaw was a region in northern England where Norse law and culture prevailed.

The battle that marked the end of the Viking Age and the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England. It was fought on October 14, 1066, and saw the victory of Duke William of Normandy over King Harold of Wessex.

The region in northern France where the Norse (Vikings) settled after being granted land by King Charles the Simple in 911. The region became known as Normandy, meaning 'land of the Northmen.'

An elite military unit composed of Vikings, serving as the bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor. The Varangian Guard was established in 911 and played an important role in Byzantine politics and warfare.