Mental Floss Reading Questions

Chapter Five: The Not-Really-That-Dark Ages (pgs: 127-154)

1. Who was Muhammad and why is he important?
~
Born in 570 CE, Muhammad was orphaned as a child
~ Raised by uncle, later became a trader and merchant
~ Married widow and at forty, began Islam, a new religion
~ Didnt start well in hometown Mecca, increased in popularity by rich and poor
~ By death in 632 CE, the Arabian Peninsula was conquered by Islamic warriors
2. How did Islam begin?
~
Started by Muhammad in hometown Mecca
~ Didnt begin well, then increased in popularity
~ Both rich and poor supported it, but mostly poor
~Around death in 632 CE, the Arabian Peninsula was conquered by Islamic warriors
3. Who was Charles Martel or Charles the Hammer?
~ Was the leader of a Frankish army, ruler of current northern France
~ Had no official title, taught army to fight in square formation from uphill areas
~ AbdarRahman was killed by Charles army, Arabs lost, halted Muslim movement in Europe
~ After battle, people called Charles by the two names listed above
4. What is the origin of the firecracker?
~
Often, confused with the invention of gunpowder
~ In third century, Chinese roasted bamboo
~ In tenth century, sulfur, salt, and charcoal were used in kitchens for cooking
~ Idea of covering bamboo with this power was said to have been created by monk, Li Tian
5. What was happening in The Roman Empire during this time period?
~ Roman Empire was pretty much only the western half of old version, fell apart
~ No main government, urban population decreased, road/transportation system ceased
~ With that, trade of exports and ideas were gone, (only good thing: wood tools metal tools)
~ Charlemagne held empire together halfway through eighth century
6. What is important about the Tang Dynasty? The Silk Road?
~ Tang Dynasty created a more peaceful China, canals were created
~ Roads including The Silk Road were reestablished, caused silk, porcelain, and spice trade to rise
~ Tea was introduced, military and health standards increased, much of what China is today
7. What was the Byzantine Empires role in the not so dark era?
~ To try to preserve the Roman Empire and the fierce reputation it recieved over time
~ Did fairly well, farmers were solders, kept taxes low, managing to fight of Persians
~ For a few hundred years, the Byzantine Empire continued to hang on
8. Who was Charlemagne and why is he important?
~
Roman leader during end of empires long reign,
~ Crowned Holy Roman emperor in 800 for not backing down versus Germanic barbarians

9. Discuss the importance of medieval monasteries.

~ Single providers of education, also provided healthcare and encouraged agricultural innovation
~ Created new farming methods, essentially started trend of missionaries spreading Christianity
10. Highlight some important aspects of the Viking society. How were Viking women treated?
~
Lived from eighth to eleventh centuries in Scandanavian countries
~ Farm in spring, early fall, rob with violence in summer, late fall, hang out in winter
~ Fought naked but with a murderous kind of ferociousness
~ Viking women had greater status and rights than men
11. What happened to the Mayan civilization? Be specific
~ Was at peak of population in 750, about thirteen million
~ Topic is debated but was said to be defeated by agricultural exhaustion
~ No more planting soil, peasantled riots, overpopulation, earthquakes
~ More problems included epidemics, malnutrition, drought caused by climate
~ Spanish raiders ended civilization completely in fifteenth century
12. Who is Justinian I and why is he remembered?
~ Born as peasant in Illyria, uncle was commander, Byzantine emperor
~ Justinian I took over in 527, by 534, Roman law was revised entirely
~ Justinian was known for attempting to recreate the old Roman Empire
~ Plan failed because of the Plague of Justinian which killed around twentyfive million
13. What is the Althing in Iceland? Why and how did it come about? Importance?
~ An authority group for the Norwegian immigrants, who were beginning to crowd Iceland
~ Rivalries and disputes were happening so the
Althing
create rules and made decisions
~ Lasted from 1262 to about 1800, continued in 1844, first representative example of government
~ Known as the worlds longest lasting legislative body
14. Who is Tuan Ch'engShih?
~ Was a folktale collector and Chinese author
~ Was known for creating the earliest version of Cinderella (YehShen)
15. What is Greek Fire?
~ A weapon created by Kallinikos, a Greek engineer
~ The liquid was used especially in naval battles, shot at enemies ships
~ They would ignite even after hitting the water, were hard to extinguish
16. What role did pretzels play in history?
~ When Turks invaded, pretzels saved the city of Vienna, bakers heard digging and stopped attack
~ Symbols of good luck and long life in many pieces of literature and art
~ Were rewarded by monkbaker to children who learned prayers (begging arms crossing breast)
17. What is feudalism? Why was it significant?
~ System of government in European Middle Ages
~ Power pyramid which involved those including monarchs, nobles, knights, peasants, and serfs
~ Agricultural methods improved, was important because it gave way to modernday capitalism