Chapter 21 Feudalism and the Middle Ages

Middle Ages

period from about 500-1450

medieval

Latin for "middle age"

Charlemagne

Great leader of the Franks in the 700s. United the Germanic kingdoms under one rule. He would put to death anyone who refused to covert to Christianity

Clovis

first Germanic king to convert to Christianity

knights

warriors who fought on horseback

vassal

paid taxes on the land and pledged military service to their lord

feudalism

system of promises that governed the relationships between lords and vassals

manor

walled in, self-contained world located on land belonging to a lord

chivalry

code of honorable behavior for a knight

Crusades

long series of wars between Christians and Muslims for the Holy Land

Palestine

Holy Land

Magna Carta

"Great Charter". A document that made the king subject to the law of the land and limited his authority

Parliament

A group of representatives who passed laws and imposed taxes. This was a step towards democracy in the form of a representative government.

Joan of Arc

Peasant, French teenager who rallied the French troops against the English

Black Death

deadly plague that swept through Europe between 1347-1351. People thought God was punishing humankind for its sins

bubonic plague

one of the plagues historians believed caused the Black Death

fief

land given to lesser lords from a noble

Fleas and rats

believed to have spread the plague throughout Europe

Germanic leaders

ruled over Western Europe after Rome fell

Pope Urban II

launched the crusades in 1095

Muslims

Won the Crusades

Jews

Expelled from England and France after the Crusades

Reconquista

A long effort to drive the Muslims out of Spain

Inquisition

A powerful court set up to torture and execute non-Christians

Hundred Years War

Series of campaigns (wars) over the succession of the French throne, involving English and French royal families and French noble families.

Longbow

deadly new weapon that could pierce a knight's armor.

1/3

fraction of Europe's population that was killed by the Black Death

king, nobles/church officials, knights, merchants, peasants/serfs

order of feudal pyramid

peasants and serfs

made up the largest class in feudal Europe. Serfs were tied to the land.

castles

where lords lived for protection

Church

1/10 of produce was given to them

Pope Leo III

Crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 800

Clergy

Church officials

cathedral

a towering church built during the Middle Ages where bishops exercised their authority

Monestaries

Where monks lived, prayed, and copied ancient texts

What is this European country?

Spain

What is this European country?

England

What is this European country?

Scotland

What is this European country?

Ireland

What is this European country?

Portugal

What is this European country?

France

What is this European country?

Italy