World History reading quiz ch.7

Middle Ages

The period of European history between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the Renaissance.

Clovis

Frankish king who united the Franks and converted to Christianity, helping spread Christianity in Western Europe.

Charlemagne

Powerful Frankish ruler who built a large empire and was crowned emperor by the pope.

King Alfred

Anglo-Saxon king who defended England against the Vikings and promoted education and learning.

Northmen/Norse

Scandinavian peoples, especially the Vikings, who raided, traded, explored, and settled throughout Europe.

William the Conqueror

Duke of Normandy who conquered England after defeating Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

Feudalism

Political and social system based on exchanging land for loyalty, protection, and military service.

Vassals

People who received land from a lord in exchange for loyalty and service.

Fief

Land or property granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service.

Serfs

Peasants who were legally tied to the land and worked for the lord of the manor.

Manor System

Economic system centered around self-sufficient agricultural estates controlled by lords and worked by peasants and serfs.

Thomas Aquinas

Medieval thinker who argued that faith and reason could work together and used Aristotle's ideas in Christian thought.

Roger Bacon

Medieval scholar who emphasized observation and experimentation as ways of gaining knowledge.

Crusades

Religious wars in which European Christians attempted to gain or regain control of the Holy Land.

Urban II

Pope who called for the First Crusade and encouraged European Christians to fight for the Holy Land.

Saladin

Muslim leader who united Muslim forces and recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders.

Magna Carta

English document that limited the king's power and established that the king was subject to the law.

Philip II

French king who strengthened the French monarchy and expanded French territory.

Parliament

English representative governing body that developed as kings called representatives together to help govern and approve taxes.

Hundred Years' War

Long conflict between England and France over territory and control of the French throne.

Joan of Arc

Young French woman who inspired French troops during the Hundred Years' War and became a symbol of French resistance.

Byzantine Empire

Eastern continuation of the Roman Empire that survived after the Western Roman Empire fell, with Constantinople as its capital.

Justinian

Byzantine emperor who organized Roman laws into the Justinian Code and built Hagia Sophia.

Moscow

Russian city that became the center of growing Russian political power.

Ivan III

Russian ruler who expanded Moscow's power and ended remaining Mongol control over Russia.

Ivan IV

Russian ruler known as “Terrible” who became the first Russian ruler officially crowned tsar.