Saladin
Muslim leader who reclaimed Jerusalem after the first crusade. Made a truce with Richard the Lion Heart during the third crusade.
Pope Urban II
Read Alexius Comnenus' letter and called on the people for a crusade.
Reconquista
Also called the Spanish Crusade, Spaniards drove out Muslim army from Spain.
Simony
The act of selling church positions. Done by bishops, and opposed by church reformers.
Pope Clement V
Pope elected by Philip IV that moved from Rome to city of Avignon, which weakened the church.
Gothic Style
From Germanic Goths, was a cathedral style that meant to inspire people with the magnificence of god.
Joan of Arc
Peasant girl who lead French forces to a victory against the English. Captured and burned at the stake for being a heretic.
Thomas Aquinas
Scholar who argued that basic religious truths could be proved with logical argument. Writer of Summa Theologica.
Usury
Lending money on interest, Church relaxed its rules on it, making Christians enter the banking buisness.
Dante Aligheri
Wrote vernacular "The Divine Comedy" in Italian.
Canterbury Tales
Vernacular that was written by English Geoffrey Cauccer
Vernacular
The language/dialect spoken by the people of a region
English longbowmen
Longbows were powerful weapons invented by the English to use against the French. They were cheap, deadly, and could penetrate armor easily.
Scholastics
Scholars of a university
Norman Conquest
Viking descendents who lived in Normandy (Viking territory north of france), they spoke French and lived a French life.
Black Death/Plague
Began in Asia, affected Muslim world and Europe. Spread by rats that had fleas. As a result, town populations fell, trade declined, serfs resisted, jews were blamed, and church lost presitage. Estimated 200 million deaths in all.
Great Schism
The church divide between the three popes (Pope Urban IV, Pope Clement VII and another). Ended with the resignation of all 3 popes, and election of Pope Martin V.
Magna Carta
"The Great Charter." Nobles forced John Softsword to sign this, gave political rights to nobles (no taxes without representation, jury trial, protection of law) Most celebrated document in English history.
Capetian
Dynasty began by duke Hugh Capet, ending the Carolingian family (Louis the Sluggard). This dynasty united France.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
French queen who gave large territory of France to Phillip II after their marriage.
Richard the Lion hearted
Leader of 3rd crusade, agreed to a truce with Saladin and Muslim army. Muslims kept the land, but Christians could visit. Son of Henry II, brother John Softsword took over when he died.
King John Softsword
Son of Henry II, was nicknamed softsword because of his weak military. Cruel to subjects, taxed people to fund his wars. He also alienated the church, threatened town charters, and his nobles revolted against him.
William the Conqueror
Duke of Normandy who invaded the land of Angles and claimed the English crown.
Inquisiton
A court held by the church to suppress heresy. (Those who opposed the church, such as Muslims and Jews)
St Francis of Assisi
Along with Clare, founded the Franciscans that treated all creatures equally. One of the 3 main groups of friars alongside Benedictines and Dominincans.
Henry II
Married Eleanor of Aquitaine, which gave him large territory of France. He strengthened royal courts, sent judges to settle lawsuits / collect taxes. 2 sons; Richard the Lion-Hearted and John Softsword.
1st/2nd Crusades
Pope Urban II riled people up, an army of 12,000 captured Jerusalem and established 4 crusader states. Muslim leader Saladin later reclaimed the land.
3rd Crusade
Lead by Phillip II of France, Richard the Lion-Hearted, and Fredrick I of Germany (Barbarossa)
4th Crusade
Lead by Pope Innocent III, Crusaders looted Constantinople, was unsuccessful in reclaiming Jerusalem.