wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Before the Renaissance

Total questions: 37

Worksheet time: 2hrs 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which past society's ideas were at the heart of the Renaissance?

a)

Ancient Islam

b)

Ancient Rome

c)

Ancient Greece

d)

Ancient Persia

2.

Which worldview does this quote most likely represent?

a)

Renaissance

b)

Medieval

c)

Islamic

d)

Crustacean

3.

This perspective would most likely be held by which person?

a)

A medieval peasant

b)

A bishop

c)

An islamic scholar

d)

A monarch

4.

Which group would be most in favour of the 'social order' mentioned in the source?

a)

A peasant

b)

A successful artisan or merchant

c)

A communist

d)

A monarch

5.

Who would be most likely to DISAGREE with this quote?

Hint: 'Forgo' means 'go without'

a)

A medieval bishop

b)

A monarch

c)

A peasant

d)

An Islamicate scholar

6.

Why would Western Europeans in the medieval ages believe the theory depicted in the source?

a)

They couldn't see the horizon

b)

God made humans to inhabit the centre of the universe

c)

The sun looked farther away than the moon

d)

They didn't believe this theory

7.

Which historical event is this quote most likely referring to?

a)

The Crusades

b)

The fall of the Roman Empire

c)

The Black Death

d)

The Great Lobster Uprising of 1374

8.

The advanced architectural feature shown here was only introduced to Western Europe when...

a)

The Byzantine Empire fell

b)

Renaissance thinkers rejected faith over reason

c)

The Roman Empire spread Ancient Greek knowledge throughout Europe

d)

Crusaders brought back knowledge from the Islamic world

9.

Three of the choices below identify changes in medieval society that caused a significant result. Identify a change that was a RESULT of the other three.

a)

The growth of towns offered more options for peasants

b)

The Black Death reduced the number of workers on manors, leading to a rise in wages

c)

The feudal system began to weaken

d)

The peasants revolted against the noble lords over their terrible pay

10.

Life for peasants working on a Noble's manor in the medieval period would have been dominated by the importance of...

a)

Seeking educational opportunities

b)

Showing obedience to the lord of the manor

c)

Expanding their knowledge of the world through travelling the Silk Road

d)

Enjoying material possessions and wealth

11.

Which of the following activities of the Christian Church during the medieval period would have been MOST criticized by those who held the changing worldview of the end of the Middle Ages?

a)

Monasteries preserved books and became centres of learning during the medieval period

b)

Priests performed religious services for members of their congregations

c)

Churches and monasteries would often care for the sick, the poor, and the hungry

d)

Land ownership and the collection of the tithe made the Church very wealthy

12.

During the middle ages, which of the following was discouraged?

a)

Loyalty to the nobility

b)

Trusting the Church officials

c)

Asking questions about the world

d)

Staying within a person's social class for life

13.

The Eastern Roman Empire was also called the...

a)

Bizon Empire

b)

Bypastine Empire

c)

Byzantine Empire

d)

Byzantium Empire

14.

The importance of _____ during the Middle Ages was shown through the grandeur of European cathedrals.

a)

Religion

b)

Nobles

c)

Logic

d)

The King

15.

Why were the Middle Ages also called the 'Dark Ages'?

a)

They were actually called the 'Dork Ages'

b)

There was a wax shortage and people were unable to make candles

c)

Western European civilization went 'back in time' in terms of enlightenment

d)

The Catholic Church dresses its clergymen in black robes

16.

Peasants are also called....

a)

Merfs

b)

Terfs

c)

Serfs

d)

Perfs

17.

This quote most likely represents...

a)

The end of the crusades

b)

The closing of the Silk Road in the West at the start of the Dark Ages

c)

The fall of the Byzantine Empire

d)

Urbanization

18.

Using this quote as a reference, what does 'divinely ordained' mean?

a)

What the Priest dictated

b)

The way of things

c)

Chosen by the King

d)

Chosen by God

19.

This map of Italy most likely represents...

a)

The late Renaissance

b)

The rule of the Roman Empire

c)

The Middle Ages

d)

The Byzantine Empire

20.

Which aspect of feudal society does this author think are unfair?

a)

The limiting of freedom of information by the Church

b)

The inequality of resources and workload

c)

The introduction of slavery

d)

The inequalities that came from the closing of the Silk Road

21.

This chart illustrates the reason why...

a)

Peasants left their jobs working the manor land

b)

Peasants' wages went up

c)

Nobles could afford to hire more serfs to work the land

d)

Nobles sold their land and moved to the cities

22.

The bubonic plague caused all of the following EXCEPT...

a)

Many peasant deaths

b)

People moving to cities

c)

Nobles losing their land

d)

Crops becoming diseased and starting a famine

23.

What is the factor below that did NOT contribute to the Islamic Empire becoming the centre of learning during the Middle Ages?

a)

They had a powerful army that kept crusaders out

b)

They were located in the middle of the Silk Road

c)

Islam promotes science and inquiry

d)

Islamicate scholars collaborated and preserved their knowledge in massive libraries

24.

Medieval Europe's society in the Middle Ages was based on...

a)

Equality of wealth

b)

Even division of political authority throughout all levels of society

c)

The Ancient Greek idea of democracy

d)

Ranking of people according to their social status using the feudal system

25.

During the Middle Ages, military conflicts between Europeans and people closest to region ____ led to contact with people who had a different worldview, the return of Ancient Greek and Roman ideas, and a revival of trade in Europe.

a)

Region II

b)

Region III

c)

Region IV

d)

Region V

26.

One main difference between samurai and knights was that...

a)

Knights were born into their role and samurai were not

b)

Samurai were much more loyal to their masters

c)

Samurai had much more training than knights

d)

Knights owned land, but samurai did not

27.

Economic activities during feudalism were based on....

a)

Agriculture

b)

Factory jobs

c)

Business banking

d)

The church

28.

What led to the formation of kingdoms in Western Europe?

a)

The Black Death

b)

Germanic tribes, visigoths, and other warlords dividing Europe up among themselves

c)

Charlemagne being crowned Holy Roman Emperor in the West

d)

The Silk Road

29.

Which type of plague was responsible for causing the most death and destruction in Europe?

a)

Bubonic

b)

Pneumonic

c)

Hereditary

d)

Covid

30.

In exchange for land, what did knights and samurai give to feudal lords and shoguns?

a)

Money

b)

Loyalty

c)

Friendship

31.

What was a major difference between knight and samurai?

a)

Only knights swore loyalty to their superior

b)

Samurai did not have a code of chivalry

c)

Knights were called upon by their religious leader to fight

32.
What is the name for the system of promises between lords and vassals that governed Europe in the Middle Ages?
a)
Christianity
b)
Feudalism
c)
Shinto
d)
Chivalry
33.

How did the plague impact Europe? (Choose all that apply)

a)

Trade continued to decline

b)

30 - 60% of Europe's population died (1/3 to 2/3 of the population)

c)

It contributed to the decline of feudalism

d)

More cathedrals were built

34.
How did the Bubonic Plague spread?
a)
Bad water
b)
Fleas on rats
c)
Looking at people
d)
Alignment of the stars
35.

Which religious group were the Christians fighting during the Crusades?

a)
Hindus
b)
Buddhists
c)
Muslims
d)
Catholics
36.
What was special about the Holy Land?
a)
it was where Jesus had lived
b)
it was where the pope's castle was
c)
it was the location of gold mines
d)
it was the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad
37.

Which map represents the Silk Road?

a)
b)
c)