charlemagne
frankish ruler; first emperor of romans
monasticism
the practice of living life as a monk
monk
a man who separate himself from ordinary human society to dedicate himself to god; live in monasteries
nun
a woman who separates herself from ordinary life to dedicate her self to god; live in convents
feudalism
political and social order that developed during the middle ages when royal governments were no longer able to defend their subjects
knight
under feudalism, a member of heavily armored cavalry
fief
a piece of land held under the feudal system
feudal contract
under feudalism, the unwritten rules that determine the relationship between the lord and his vassal
chivalry
the medieval principles governing knighthood and knightly conduct
manor
in medieval europe, an agricultural estate that a lord ran and peasants worked
manorialism
peasants of medieval europe were rendered dependent on their land and on their land
serf
a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
common law
a uniform system of law that developed in england based on court decisions and on customs and usage rather than on written code laws; replaced law codes that varied from place to place
magna carta
the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215
parliament
descends from the great council later known as the parliament established by magna carta; the highest legislature, consisting of the sovereign, the house of lords, and the house of commons
henry ii
king of France from 1547 to 1559; regained Calais from the English; husband of Catherine de Medicis and father of Charles IX; expanded the anglo french domains and strengthened royal administration