world history vocab - medieval europe

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