Question

multiple - choice questions
1 what caused farming to improve in europe between 1100 and 1300?
a) the invention of tractors
b) a warmer climate and better farming methods
c) a decrease in population
d) the discovery of new lands
2 why did farmers start using horses instead of oxen?
a) horses were easier to train
b) horses could plow fields faster
c) oxen became extinct
d) horses ate less food
3 what was the three - field system?
a) a system of trading goods across three cities
b) a method of organizing medieval villages
c) a farming method that increased food production
d) a type of medieval law
4 what was the most commonly traded item in medieval europe?
a) salt
b) cloth
c) wine
d) iron
5 what were fair days?
a) religious festivals
b) special days for trading goods
c) holidays for knights
d) days when taxes were collected
6 how could a serf gain freedom?
a) by winning a tournament
b) by serving in the military
c) by living in a town for a year and a day
d) by buying land from a lord
7 what was one problem with medieval towns?
a) they were too clean
b) they had too many roads
c) they were overcrowded and dirty
d) they were only for nobles
8 what was the biggest danger in medieval towns?
a) viking invasions
b) fire
c) snowstorms
d) wild animals
9 why did many people move to towns despite the poor living conditions?
a) towns were safer than manors
b) towns offered better economic and social opportunities
c) towns had cleaner water
d) kings forced people to move
10 what city became an important medieval trading center? a) paris
b) rome
c) london
d) athens

Explanation:

1. Question 1:

• Tractors were not invented until much later. A decrease in population would not improve farming. New lands discovery is not the main reason for farming improvement in this period. A warmer climate and better farming methods (like the three - field system) improved farming.

1. Question 2:

• Horses could plow fields faster than oxen. There is no indication that oxen became extinct. Training ease is not the main reason. Horses eating less food is not the key factor for their adoption in farming.

1. Question 3:

• The three - field system was a farming method. It divided land into three parts, with one part left fallow each year to maintain soil fertility, increasing food production.

1. Question 4:

• Cloth was a commonly traded item in medieval Europe. Salt was important but not as commonly traded as cloth. Wine and iron were also traded but not as ubiquitous as cloth.

1. Question 5:

• Fair days were special days for trading goods. They were not mainly religious festivals, holidays for knights, or tax - collection days.

1. Question 6:

• A serf could gain freedom by living in a town for a year and a day (the "year and a day" rule). Serving in the military, buying land from a lord, or winning a tournament were not the typical ways for a serf to gain freedom.

1. Question 7:

• Medieval towns were overcrowded and dirty. They were not too clean. There were not too many roads (in fact, roads were often in poor condition). They were not only for nobles as there were commoners in towns.

1. Question 8:

• Fire was a big danger in medieval towns. Viking invasions were more of a threat to rural areas and coastal regions. Snowstorms and wild animals were not the biggest dangers in towns.

1. Question 9:

• Towns offered better economic and social opportunities. Towns were not necessarily safer than manors (manors had their own defenses). Water in towns was often contaminated. Kings did not force people to move in large numbers for this reason.

1. Question 10:

• London became an important medieval trading center. Paris was also important but London had a significant role in trade. Rome's importance was more in ancient times. Athens was more prominent in ancient Greek times.

Answer:

1. b) A warmer climate and better farming methods
2. b) Horses could plow fields faster
3. c) A farming method that increased food production
4. b) Cloth
5. b) Special days for trading goods
6. c) By living in a town for a year and a day
7. c) They were overcrowded and dirty
8. b) Fire
9. b) Towns offered better economic and social opportunities
10. c) London