FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
POTENTIAL ID'S:
CONSTANTINE, CONSTANTINOPLE, JUSTINIAN, THEODORA, BASIL THE BULGAR
SLAYER, CHRISTOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES, ICONOCLASM
MUHAMMAD, KHADIJAH, MECCA, MEDINA, KORAN, FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM,
SHAHADA, MOSQUE, HAJ, RAMADAN, JIHAD
GREGORY THE GREAT, BENEDICTINES, CHARLEMAGNE, FEUDALISM, CRUSADES, SONG
OF ROLAND, LANCELOT, ROMANESQUE, GOTHIC, ANSELM, ABELARD, AQUINAS, ST.
FRANCIS
BLACK DEATH, HUNDRED YEARS' WAR, JACQUERIE, BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY OF THE
PAPACY, GREAT SCHISM
BOCCACCIO, PICO DELLA MIRANDOLA, MACHIAVELLI, BOTTICELLI, DA VINCI,
DONATELLO, RAPHAEL, MICHELANGELO, WYCLIF, HUSS, SAVANAROLA
LUTHER, ZWINGLI, CALVIN, JESUITS, ANABAPTISTS, BRETHREN OF THE COMMON
LIFE, ERASMUS, MORE, ANGLICANS
POTENTIAL ESSAY QUESTIONS:
A. Christianity gave the Roman Empire a new lease on life.
Particularly in the east, the Christianized Roman Empire, what we
usually call the Byzantine Empire, remained successful for
centuries. However, the Byzantine Empire was not quite as
Christian as it might have been, nor was Christianity always as helpful
as it might have been. Comment.
B. Muhammad would at first seem an insignificant historical
figure, but he turned the Arabs into a force to be reckoned with and
created one of the most compelling and attractive of all religions,
Islam. Comment.
C. European society in the Early and High Middle Ages did an excellent
job providing physical security, ethical guidance, and emotional
fulfillment for its members. Comment.
D. In the 14th century, a series of calamities shook the medieval
world to its foundations. Discuss these disasters and note the
effect each had on political, economic, and/or social conditions in
Europe.
E. The Renaissance was a period of tremendous achievement in all
sorts of areas: in the arts, in literature, and, to a certain extent,
in spiritual life as well. Comment.
F. In 16th century Europe, reformers of various types tried to
correct the many abuses they saw in their society, trying especially to
reform the church. Unfortunately, their attempts at reform
sometimes only increased the turmoil of this century. The events of the
Reformation period have important lessons for anyone who wants change
society—suggesting that there is a right way and a wrong way to work
for societal change. Comment.