Exploring Medieval European Governance

What was the basic structure of the feudal system in medieval Europe?

• A system where everyone was equal

• A hierarchy with kings at the top, followed by nobles, knights, and peasants

• A democracy where everyone voted for leaders

• A system where the church controlled everything

Which of the following best describes the role of a king in the feudal system?

• A religious leader who conducted ceremonies

• A military leader who protected the land and granted fiefs to nobles

• A farmer who worked the land

• A merchant who traded goods

How did the church influence daily life in medieval Europe?

• By organizing sports events

• By controlling education and moral teachings

• By managing trade routes

• By building castles

What was a common duty of peasants in the feudal system?

• To fight in wars

• To work the land and produce food

• To write laws

• To lead religious services

Explain how the feudal system provided protection to its members.

• By building walls around villages

• By creating a network of mutual obligations between lords and vassals

• By hiring mercenaries from other countries

• By forming alliances with neighboring kingdoms

Describe one way in which the church held power over kings during the Middle Ages.

• By controlling the army

• By having the authority to excommunicate them

• By owning all the land

• By setting taxes

How did the life of a peasant differ from that of a noble in medieval Europe?

• Peasants had more freedom than nobles

• Peasants worked the land while nobles managed estates and fought in wars

• Peasants were wealthier than nobles

• Peasants were responsible for making laws

Identify one reason why the feudal system began to decline in Europe.

• The discovery of new continents

• The rise of powerful centralized monarchies

• The invention of the printing press

• The spread of democracy

What was the significance of the manor in the feudal system?

• It was a place where knights trained

• It was the economic and social center of life for peasants and lords

• It was a religious site for pilgrimages

• It was a marketplace for international trade

How did the church's influence affect the education system in medieval Europe?

• It led to the establishment of universities and the preservation of classical knowledge

• It discouraged learning and closed all schools

• It focused solely on teaching military skills

• It promoted only agricultural education