Lesson Y7-U05-L05

Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages Quiz: KS3 History, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y7-U05-L05, Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 History (National Curriculum), Unit 5: Year 7: Medieval Lives, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which of these was classified as a crime against the person?

    • Murder
    • Heresy
    • Poaching
    • Treason

  2. What medieval crime involved hunting game on the king's land without permission?

    • Trespass
    • Poaching
    • Vagrancy
    • Smuggling

  3. What crime involved plotting against the monarch?

    • Mutiny
    • Treason
    • Rebellion
    • Sedition

  4. What crime involved going against the official teachings of the Church?

    • Schism
    • Simony
    • Blasphemy
    • Heresy

  5. What was the most common type of crime committed in the Middle Ages?

    • Arson
    • Petty theft
    • Highway robbery
    • Counterfeiting

  6. Why were long-term prison sentences rare in medieval England?

    • No jails built
    • Kings disliked them
    • Cost too much
    • Pardoned quickly

  7. Who decided guilt in a medieval jury trial?

    • The local bishop
    • Royal judges
    • Local men
    • The local lord

  8. Which method of trial was the most common for everyday crimes?

    • Trial by ordeal
    • Trial by Witan
    • Trial by jury
    • Trial by combat

  9. What did trial by ordeal rely on God to do?

    • Pay court fines
    • Protect the innocent
    • Smite the jurors
    • Cure the victim

  10. Why did the Church ban trial by ordeal in 1215?

    • Too many escaped
    • Trial costs rose
    • Priests involved
    • Kings demanded it

  11. Which social group typically used trial by combat?

    • Merchants
    • The nobility
    • Monks
    • Serfs

  12. In trial by combat, what was victory thought to prove?

    • Better weapon skill
    • Who told truth
    • Royal favour
    • Greater wealth

  13. What was the purpose of the stocks and pillory?

    • Secret execution
    • Long imprisonment
    • Labour punishment
    • Public humiliation

  14. What was a common physical punishment for repeat thieves?

    • Ear clipping
    • Losing a hand
    • Tongue removal
    • Blinding

  15. What was the penalty for treason against the king?

    • Life in chains
    • Banishment
    • Heavy fines
    • Drawn and quartered

  16. What was the main aim of public medieval punishments?

    • Compensation
    • Deterrence
    • Isolation
    • Rehabilitation

  17. Which crime was against property, such as burning down a building?

    • Treason
    • Murder
    • Arson
    • Heresy

  18. Which type of crime received the harshest punishments?

    • Treason
    • Trespassing
    • Petty theft
    • Vandalism

  19. Besides fines, what common punishment was used for theft?

    • Whipping
    • Branding
    • Exile
    • Pillory

  20. Why were jury trials generally preferred over ordeals?

    • Cheaper to run
    • Based on evidence
    • Always ended fast
    • Used torture

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