History 112 Winter, 2007

History 112 Winter, 2007

This is a closed book, closed note exam. We do, however, encourage you to get together with other students in the class to prepare for these questions in advance. The essay you ultimately write will of course be your own. But it can be quite helpful to get a group of students together, divide these questions up among you, and then ask each member of the study group to outline the principal ideas, events, etc. that are relevant to each question, and then share these outlines with the other members of the study group.

Here are the essay questions.

1. 
   “It is the early strength of the English kings that explains why England would eventually develop into a constitutionally limited monarchy; while it is the early weakness of the Capetian kings of France that explains the eventual emergence of French royal absolutism.” Explain this apparent paradox.
   

2. 
   Why was it so particularly important for European kings to secure political consent to their policies in the period between 1150 and 1450?
   

3. 
   Did the Investiture Conflict establish a lasting distinction in western Europe between the religious and political realms?
   

4. 
   What long-term impact did the Twelfth-Century Renaissance have upon western European women? Start, of course, by describing the impact of the Twelfth-Century Renaissance upon women in the twelfth century. But don’t stop there. Carry your answer on to at least 1500. How lasting were these developments?
   

5. 
   How would you explain the increasing intolerance toward minority groups (heretics, Jews, gay people) in western Europe that develops between 1150 and 1300? Why is intolerance growing at this particular time?
   

6. 
   What contribution did Church-State conflicts make to the development of limited government in western Europe?
   

7. 
   In 1215, the Papacy had never looked stronger. Yet between 1215 and 1500, the balance of power between Church and State in western Europe shifted decisively in favor of the state. Account for this development.
   

8. 
   You have been asked to write a proposal for a textbook on the history of women in western Europe from ca. 300 CE to ca. 1650 CE. Your publisher wishes to know what the smaller historical periods are into which you will be dividing your book. You don’t need to write the book yet; but you do need to explain what periods you will utilize in your history, and what it is about each of these periods that characterizes it as a distinct period in the history of western European women. Write your response, assigning a catchy name to each period you choose. BE SURE TO USE CONCRETE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER. Don’t just give us really broad generalities.
   

9. 
   What impact did the religious reformations of the 16^th century have upon the relationship between religion and politics in western Europe?
   

10. 
    Describe the most important changes that occurred in the social, religious, economic, and political position of women in western Europe between 1300 and 1650. How would you account for these changes?
    

SOME USEFUL TERMS

The First Crusade Pope Gregory VII Dominicans

Scholasticism King Louis IX of France Cistercians

Franciscans Concordat of Worms (1122) Courtly love

Albigensians (Cathars) Battle of Crecy Frederick II

lay investiture Romance of the Rose Parliament

Pope Innocent III Pope Boniface VIII Petrarch

Philip IV, "the Fair" English Peasants Revolt

the Cult of the Virgin Mary Christine de Pisan

the Avignon Papacy Great Schism

Salic law (the 14^th century one) Council of Constance

conciliarism Categorization

Joan of Arc indulgences

Council of Trent Emperor Charles V

Peace of Augsburg (1555) Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Cardinal Richelieu syllogism