Everyday Life in the Past

History · 10 questions

Not the kings and the battles, but how people actually got through the day.

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1. Why were medieval European guilds so powerful in towns?

   1. They controlled who could practise a trade
   2. They commanded the town militia
   3. They owned all farmland nearby
   4. They appointed the local bishop
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   A) They controlled who could practise a trade

2. Why did Roman cities need enormous public bath complexes?

   1. Bathing was a religious duty
   2. Most homes had no private bathing
   3. Water was taxed by the bucket
   4. Soap was sold only in baths
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   B) Most homes had no private bathing

3. What was the main reason people in medieval Europe often drank weak ale rather than water?

   1. Water was heavily taxed
   2. Ale was cheaper than water
   3. Brewing made the drink safer
   4. Wells were forbidden to commoners
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   C) Brewing made the drink safer

4. Before mechanical clocks were common, how was the working day usually divided?

   1. By hourglasses in every home
   2. By the tolling of ship horns
   3. By royal proclamation each week
   4. By daylight and church bells
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   D) By daylight and church bells

5. Why was salt so valuable through much of history?

   1. It was used as a medicine only
   2. It was rare in every region
   3. It was needed to make glass
   4. It was the main way to preserve food
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   D) It was the main way to preserve food

6. What did a medieval apprentice typically receive instead of wages?

   1. A share of the guild profits
   2. Board, lodging and training
   3. A plot of farmland
   4. A seat on the town council
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   B) Board, lodging and training

7. Why did early printed books remain expensive despite the printing press?

   1. Paper and binding stayed costly
   2. Presses could print one page a day
   3. Only monks were allowed to sell them
   4. Ink had to be imported from Asia
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   A) Paper and binding stayed costly

8. Forks were slow to be accepted at European tables and were once thought affected.

   1. True
   2. False
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   A) True

9. Most people in pre-industrial Europe travelled far from their birthplace during their lives.

   1. True
   2. False
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   B) False

10. Public letter writers made a living because literacy was far from universal.

    1. True
    2. False
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    A) True