Western civ

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- three-field system- A system of farming developed in medieval Europe, in which farmland was divided into three fields of equal size, and each of these was successively planted with a winter crop, planted with a spring crop, and left unplanted.

• guild- A medieval association of people working at the same occupation, which controlled its members' wages and prices.

• Commercial Revolution- The expansion of trade and business that transformed European economies during the 16th and 17th centuries.

• burgher- A medieval merchant-class town dweller.

• vernacular- The everyday language of people in a region or country.

• Thomas Aquinas- A scholar who argued that the most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument. He wrote the Summa Theologicae, which was influenced by Aristotle, combined Ancient Greek thought with the Christian thought of his time.

• scholastics- Scholars who gathered and taught at medieval European universities

2. How did medieval society change between 1000 and 1500? Describe the major changes that occurred during the 500 year period. *Minimum one-paragraph response.- Although once regarded as a time of uninterrupted ignorance, superstition, and social oppression, the Middle Ages are now understood as a dynamic period during which the idea of Europe as a distinct cultural unit emerged. During late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, political, social, economic, and cultural structures were profoundly reorganized, as roman imperial traditions gave way to those of the Germanic peoples who established kingdoms in the former Western Empire. New forms of political leadership were introduced, the population of Europe was gradually Christianized, and monasticism was established as the ideal form of religious life.

MAIN IDEAS
3. How did guilds influence business practices in medieval towns?- They controlled the number of goods being traded and to keep prices up. they provided security in trading and reduced losses. Guilds set standards for the utility of work, wages, and working conditions.
4. How were Muslim scholars linked to the revival of learning in Europe?- Christian scholars from Europe began visiting Muslim libraries in Spain. Books began to be translated into Latin for people in Europe to read.
5. In what ways did burghers expand their freedom from landlords?- They organized themselves and demanded privileges. These include freedom from certain kinds of tolls and the right to govern the town. They sometimes took these rights by force.