Final answer:
The medieval period is known for both continuity, through enduring cultural and religious practices, and significant change due to transformations in societal structures such as feudalism, religious institutions, and the rise of centralized powers. The correct option is: c) Both a and b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medieval period is termed one of continuity and change due to a complex matrix of social, political, and religious factors that characterized the era. During this time, there were aspects that remained constant, such as certain cultural practices and religious traditions, which provided a sense of continuity. On the other hand, there were profound societal transformations due to factors like depopulation, shifting military practices, and the centralization of monarchical power, which brought about significant change. This dichotomy of change and continuity is especially notable with events like the religious transformations following the Black Plague, the evolutionary consequences of the Mongol Empire's collapse, and the socioeconomic impacts of the feudal system's decline.
Feudalism serves as a perfect example of this dual nature. Although the rigid social structure persisted for centuries, offering cultural stability and continuity, the era also experienced an increase in social mobility and the rise of centralized monarchical bureaucracies, which contributed to the chipping away of the feudal divides. Religious changes during the fourteenth century further illustrate the dynamic nature of this period, with the splintering of some beliefs into subdivisions and the solidifying of others into institutional forms, shaping common identities over vast territories.
Economically and socially, the period saw both enduring hardship in the form of famines and the Black Plague, as well as areas of prosperity like the Italian Peninsula. This juxtaposition further reinforced the medieval era as a time of continuity and change. Thus, the correct answer to the question is c) Both a and b.