Summer Assignment for AP European History:
I.
Read chapters 9, 10, 11 and answer review questions (already given to you):
Chapter 9: The Recovery and Growth of European Society in the High Middle Ages
Answer each question in complete sentences:
1. How important were new agricultural practices to the production of food in the
High Middle Ages?
2. Discuss the structures and changes in daily life of the ordinary European medieval
village.
3. How did most Europeans live and what were the material factors shaping their
behavior at the communal level?
4. Discuss the life of a medieval peasant family; include both their work and nonwork experience.
5. What were some of the reasons for the revival of trade and growth of cities in the
Middle Ages?
6. What were some of the advantages and disadvantages of living in a medieval
city?
7. What were the causes and consequences of the development of the early medieval
universities?
8. What were some of the reasons for the revival of classical antiquity in the High
Middle Ages?
9. Discuss the fusion of Christian theology and classical logic in the High Middle
Ages.
10. Compare and contrast Romanesque and Gothic architecture.
Chapter 10: The Rise of Kingdoms and the Growth of Church Power
Answer each question in complete sentences:
1. Discuss the attempts at reform of the Catholic Church. Over what did Popes and
Emperors conflict, and what effect did this have on their relationship?
(Edited language from previous questions)
2. How was this conflict resolved?
3. Discuss the background to the Crusades. What key events precipitated these
forays of European knights toward the Holy Land?
4. What were the underlying reasons for the Crusades? What were the principal
motivations of the Crusades?
5. Why is this statement true: “the Crusades were a successful failure”?
6. Discuss the roles of monastic orders, old and new, in shaping the politics and
culture of medieval Europe.
7. How did the institution of the papacy change during the Middle Ages? What
powers were either gained or lost?
8. What was the Inquisition? Who founded the court and what was its purpose?
9. How does the behavior of Saint Francis of Assisi exemplify a return to early
Christian ideals of church organization and operation?
10. What does the popularity of Saint Francis of Assisi tell you about popular religion
during the Middle Ages?
Chapter 11: The Later Middle Ages: Crises and Disintegration in the 14th Century
Answer each question in complete sentences.
1. Discuss the factors that led to the urban and rural revolts in the 14th century.
2. Was desperate poverty a chief cause of these revolts? Why or why not?
3. What was the main cause of the 14th century famines?
4. What were the causes of the Hundred Years’ War?
5. Why did the war continue on for so long during the 14th century?
6. What advantages did each side possess?
7. What were the results of these wars on both France and England?
8. What changes occurred in the political life of Italy during the 14th century?
9. What were the main causes of the Great Schism?
10. What were the major results of this great political and religious conflict?
11. What does the phrase ‘vernacular language’ mean?
12. How did the adversities of the 14th century affect both urban life and medical
practices at the time?
II.
Geography
a. See list of countries, cities and geographic features at end of this section
b. Print out map and label it
c. Expect a geography quiz when school begins
III.
Machiavelli’s The Prince
A. Purchase a copy of the book. It is available in local book stores or can be
purchased online.
B. Background on Machiavelli
For some background on Machiavelli, feel free to use the internet or an
encyclopedia. It’s important to know the context (time, place, situations) in which
he’s writing, in order to understand his purpose. The following sites give quick
summaries of Machiavelli’s life:
http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/macv.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiavelli
http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/philosophers/machaivelli.html
C. Read The Prince and prepare for discussion
We will be having a discussion in class covering the following questions. Your
assignment is to be prepared to fully participate in this discussion. In order to do
this, please take notes from the book for each of the questions so as to be ready to
discuss these questions in class.
• You should have notes for each of the questions
• Notes should include major points, ideas, and examples that help you
answer the question AS WELL AS the chapter in your book in which you
found the information (so that we can examine the passage as a class).
• Write in your book (underline, write in margins, etc.) so that you can
easily find the sections to which your notes refer. This will allow you to
easily find these sections during the discussion if necessary.
• Your notes do not have to be in complete sentences and will not be graded
for spelling, punctuation, neatness, etc.—they’re YOUR notes… simply
make sure you can read and use them! I will be collecting your notes after
the discussion to check for completion.
• You may share ideas with a colleague, but simply copying a friend’s notes
will be considered cheating and result in a zero.
• Grades will be based on quality of notes and participation in the class
discussion
• Due date: first day of class
• Your notes should be sufficient so that you can contribute an informed
opinion to the class discussion and back that opinion up with sufficient
evidence from the text.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is Machiavelli’s view of human nature? In what passages is this stated most
clearly? In your opinion, are his views of human nature accurate?
2. Why does Machiavelli say that it is better for a prince "to be both loved and
feared"? Is it possible for a prince to be both? Explain.
3. In chapter 18, Machiavelli advices that a ruler ought to take both the lion and the
fox as his models. What exactly does Machiavelli mean by this advice? How does
it fit into the argument of Chapter 18, and how does it influence our overall
understanding of The Prince?
4. Does Machiavelli believe that ethical considerations have a role to play in the
conduct of a prince? Explain.
5. Does The Prince present justice as nothing more than the interest of the stronger?
Explain.
6. Why did Machiavelli write The Prince?
Be able to locate the following on the European map. More important than knowing
where cities are is knowing in what country they are located… so make sure you know,
for example, that Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic.
Countries & Major Cities:
Portugal
Lisbon
Spain
Madrid
Barcelona
France
Paris
Vichy
Avignon
Luxembourg
Belgium
Brussels
Netherlands
The Hague
Amsterdam
Rotterdam
United Kingdom:
England
London
Manchester
Scotland
Edinburgh
Wales
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Ireland
Dublin
Germany
Frankfurt
Berlin
Munich
Dresden
Bonn
Austria
Vienna
Switzerland
Zurich
Geneva
Bern
Italy
Rome
Venice
Florence
Naples
Milan
Turin
Slovenia
Countries & Major Cities:
Czech Republic
Prague
Slovakia
Bratislava
Poland
Warsaw
Krakow
Gdansk
Lithuania
Latvia
Estonia
Hungary
Budapest
Croatia
Zagreb
Serbia
Belgrade
Montenegro
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sarajevo
Albania
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Greece
Athens
Turkey
Istanbul (Constantinople)
Bulgaria
Sofia
Romania
Bucharest
Moldova
Ukraine
Kiev
Belarus
Russian Federation
Kaliningrad
Moscow
St. Petersburg/Leningrad
Volgograd (Stalingrad)
Finland
Helsinki
Sweden
Stockholm
Norway
Oslo
Denmark
Copenhagen
Bodies of Water:
Baltic Sea
North Sea
English Channel
Bay of Biscay
Strait of Gibraltar
Mediterranean Sea
Aegean Sea
Strait of the Dardanelles
Strait of the Bosphorus
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Adriatic Sea
Ionian Sea
Rivers:
Po Elbe
Tiber Oder
Ebro Danube
Loire Volga
Seine Rhone
Rhine Thames
Mountains:
Pyranees
Apennines
Alps
Caucasus
Carpathians
Urals
Balkans
Islands:
Crete
Sicily
Sardinia
Corsica
Other Landmarks:
Brittany Peninsula
Crimea
Iberian Peninsula
Balkan Peninsula
Silesia
Alsace/Lorraine
Ruhr Valley
Note: Montenegro became independent from Serbia-Montenegro in 2006. Its independence is not
reflected in this map. Also, label “Kosovo” on this map. The US recognizes Kosovo as an
independent country; others, such as Serbia, Spain and Russia, do not.
Modern-day Europe Map