Key Terms in Medieval and Early Modern History

Roman Catholicism

The branch of Christianity dominant in Western Europe, headed by the Pope.

Eastern Orthodoxy

Branch of Christianity practiced in the Byzantine Empire, split from Roman Catholicism.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern Roman Empire centered in Constantinople, preserved Roman culture.

Tithes

Taxes paid to the Church, usually one-tenth of income.

Excommunication

Banishment from the Church and its sacraments.

Pope/Papacy

The religious leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire, key trade city.

Decentralization

Distribution of power away from a central authority.

Crusades

Religious wars between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land.

Manors/Manor System

Self-sufficient estates controlled by lords, worked by peasants.

Feudalism

Political system based on land exchange for loyalty and service.

Fief

Land granted to a vassal by a lord.

Knights

Mounted warriors serving lords in exchange for land.

Serfs

Peasants tied to the land who worked for lords.

Fealty/Homage

Oaths of loyalty from vassals to lords.

Vassal

Person who received land in exchange for loyalty and service.

The Three Estates

Social classes: clergy, nobility, and commoners.

First Estate

The clergy.

Second Estate

The nobility.

Third Estate

The commoners.

Agrarian

Related to farming and agriculture.

Islam

Monotheistic religion founded by Muhammad in the 7th century.

Caliph

Islamic political and religious leader, successor to Muhammad.

Jizya

Tax on non-Muslims in Islamic states.

People of the Book

Jews and Christians in Islamic theology.

Abbasid Caliphate

Muslim dynasty (750-1258) that led a golden age of learning.

House of Wisdom

Intellectual center in Baghdad where scholars preserved and translated knowledge.

Turks

Nomadic Muslim peoples who formed states like the Seljuk and Ottoman Empires.

South Asia

Region including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Hinduism

Major religion in South Asia emphasizing dharma, karma, and reincarnation.

Caste System

Hindu social hierarchy with fixed classes.

Dharma

Duty based on one's caste and life stage.

Karma

The effects of a person's actions on their future.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.

Samsara

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Buddhism

Religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama focusing on ending suffering.

Nirvana

Ultimate goal in Buddhism; liberation from suffering and rebirth.

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim kingdom that ruled northern India.

Aztecs

Mesoamerican empire centered in Tenochtitlan.

Tenochtitlan

Capital city of the Aztecs.

Chinampas

Floating gardens used by Aztecs for agriculture.

Andes

Mountain range in South America where the Inca lived.

Carpa Nan

Incan road system.

Inca Empire

Andean empire known for roads and the Mita system.

Mita System

Incan labor tax requiring people to work on public projects.

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty (960-1279) known for innovation and bureaucracy.

Meritocracy

Government positions awarded based on ability.

Champa Rice

Fast-ripening rice from Vietnam that allowed multiple harvests.

Imperial Bureaucracy

System where state officials carry out government duties.

Civil Service Exam

Tests to select officials based on Confucian knowledge.

Gunpowder

Chinese invention used in weapons and fireworks.

Chinese Tribute System

System where other states paid China for access and peace.

Woodblock Printing

Early Chinese printing technique using carved blocks.

Ancestral Veneration

Honoring deceased family members.

Filial Piety

Respect for one's parents and elders, key Confucian value.

Confucianism

Chinese philosophy emphasizing social harmony and hierarchy.

Silk

Luxury fabric important in trade.

Porcelain

High-quality ceramic exported from China.

Grand Canal

Major waterway in China that connected north and south for trade.