2020-2021 Grade 7 Unit 2 Assessment 3 of 73 of 7 Items

Item 3
Use the source below to answer the question.

Source A

Source Information: The Mid-Ninth century is often taken as the low point of Western European civilization. The Annals of the Abbey of Xanten, (near the mouth of the River Rhine), express the situation.

846

At this same time, as no one can mention or hear without great sadness, the mother of all the churches, the basilica of the apostle Peter, was taken and plundered by the Moors, or Saracens, who had already occupied the region of Beneventum. The Saracens, moreover, slaughtered all the Christians whom they found outside the walls of Rome, either within or without this church. They also carried men and women away prisoners. They tore down, among many others, the altar of the blessed Peter, and their crimes from day to day bring sorrow to Christians. Pope Sergius departed life this year.

849

While King Louis [Ludwig, the King of Germany] was ill his army of Bavaria took its way against the Bohemians. Many of these were killed and the remainder withdrew, much humiliated, into their own country. The heathen from the North wrought havoc in Christendom as usual and grew greater in strength, but it is revolting to say more of this matter.

852

The steel of the heathen glistened; excessive heat; a famine followed. There was not enough fodder for the animals….

853

A great famine in Saxony so that many were forced to live on horse meat.

*This source was modified from its original version.

SOURCE: “Medieval Sourcebook: Annals of Xanten, 845-853” by Paul Halsall (editor), 2020

Source B

Social Hierarchy

Under the system of manorialism, social roles were inflexible. Peasants, who were the majority of the population, were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. They depended on the lords who owned the land for food, shelter, and protection. Above the peasants were knights, who defended the lord’s property and protected the peasants. When the king owned the land and leased it to nobles, the nobles owed the king military service. Knights provided this service. Many knights were the sons of nobles who did not inherit their father’s land. At the top of social hierarchy were the landowning nobles. By controlling the land, they controlled the lives of everyone who depended on it.

A new class of craftspeople developed in the last Middle Ages due to increased food production. Because farming had become more efficient, not all peasants needed to work as farmers to produce enough grain to support the population. As a result, some peasants learned specialized trades. Other peasants manufactured goods that could be sold to others living on the manor. This increasing specialization spurred growth of towns and cities and the development of a middle class, developments that have shaped modern society.

*This source was modified from its original version.

SOURCE: “Medieval Agriculture and Society.” Discovery Education, app. discoveryeducation. com/learn/player/b20f592f-9244-49b3 -ac8e6202fac4af2c.

Source A states, "The Saracens, moreover, slaughtered all the Christians whom they found outside the walls of Rome." Which quote from Source B best supports how the feudal system addressed this issue?

"Under the system on manorialism, social roles were inflexible."
"Under the system on manorialism, social roles were inflexible."

"Above the peasants were knights, who defended the lord's property and protected the peasants."
"Above the peasants were knights, who defended the lord's property and protected the peasants."

"As a result, some peasants learned specialized trades."
"As a result, some peasants learned specialized trades."

"By controlling the land, they controlled the lives of everyone who depended on it."