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Middle Ages Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Feudalism | A social system in medieval Europe, in which land/crops were offered in exchange for military protection. Systems originated from lawlessness during Dark Ages after the Fall of Rome and because of the weak central governments. |
"Caste" System | Middle Ages had a rigged class structure with the King on top, Nobility, Knight, Peasants, and Serfs. |
Nobles | Landed gentry such as Dukes and Barons that were given manors in exchange for providing protection in the form of castles and knights back to the King. |
Knights | Part of the warrior class that exchanged protection for payment, shelter, and food. |
Peasants | The lower class that worked the land for the Nobles and a give portion of their crops to the Nobles in exchanged for protection. |
Serfs | The lowest labor class that works on the manor for protection. This group actually conveys with the manor which severely restricted their freedom. |
Manor | The castle and the surrounding lands. |
Magna Carta | Documents signed in 1215 that limits the rights of the English monarch. |
Black Death/Black Plague | The bubonic plague that originated in China and was carried by fleas on rats to Europe where it killed 1/4-1/2 of the population. |
Medieval | Describes the period of the Middle Ages from 500-1200 AD in Europe |
Charlemagne | The best known Frankish king over the Holy Roman Empire. Known for his stance on education. |
Vikings | Germanic people from Scandinavia who often raided western Europe on longships during the AD 800s and 900s due to a growing population and poor farmland. |
Monastery | A building where religious Monks lived and worked. Convent is the female version for Nuns. |
Crusades | A series of Christian military expeditions from 11th-13th centuries to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims |
Sacred | Religious. |
Secular | Not Religious. |
Page | The first step of knighthood about age 7. |
Squire | The second stage of knighthood- about age 14. |
Chivalry | A code of behavior for a knight including fairness and respect for women. |