Medieval Europe Study Guide I - Priovolos

Roman Empire: government structure

republic government, centralized imperial authority

Roman Empire: notable leaders

Constantine, Augustus

Roman Empire: law system

civil law, focus on common people

Byzantine Empire: government structure

absolute monarchy

Byzantine Empire: notable leaders

Justinian, Constantine

Byzantine Empire: notable achievements

continuation of roman empire + traditions, built wall to protect themselves

Justinian: who, when death, what did he do

Eastern Roman emperor, death in 527CE, best remembered for reform of legal system + military expansion + last Roman emperor + reconquered city of Rome from Ostrogoths

Theodora

Justinian’s wife, former prostitute, convinced him to stay during riots which ultimately saved his rule

Central Authority

a government with one main leader and a main city for government where everything is centered around

Feudalism

a system made after the fall of Rome so peasants could stay safe from constant attacks, a king gives a lord land and the lord distributes the land to vassals which give a small piece to peasants that each work for the one above them providing labor and army

Decentralized Authority

a government where there is no centralized ruler and no strong centralized city

Power Vacuum

when someone in power has lost control and no one has replaced them

Holy Roman Empire

a Christian, Frankish and Roman empire beginning with the crowning of Charlemagne

Clovis

first king of Franks to unite all Germanic tribes together with him being the leader

Charlemagne

King of Franks first and King of Lombards and then crowned emperor of Holy Roman Empire

Treaty of Verdun

divided the Frankish empire into the three parts, one for each of Charlemagne sons who constantly fought over land and power

Mutual Obligations

the agreement between a vassal and lord, vassal gives labor and loyalty and lord gives protection and land

Monastery

enclosed and remote community of monks led by abbot who shunned wordly goods

Convent

community of people in religious order, especially nuns

Secular

non-religious

Tithe

peasants have to give 10% of produce like animals, crops, or goods to the Church

Clergy

religious officials (bishops, priests, Pope)

Church Hierarchy

pope at the top then Cardinals (advisors to pope) then bishops (superiors in region or cathedral)

St. Benedict

made the list of rules all monks and nuns have to follow

Papal Authority

the power of the pope who had a lot of powers in the middle ages (like always having the last word)

Leo III

pope who crowned Charlemagne to be the first Holy roman Emperor

Gregory I

elected in 1073 CE, Gregory I created Dictatus Papae, a compilation of 27 of the Pope’s powers

Lay Investiture Controversy

a conflict between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Roman Catholic Church over the power to appoint bishops and other church officials

Chivalry

a moral, religious, and social code all knights have to follow

Lord

person who gave out fiefs to vassals in exchange for labor, second to top of feudal hierarchy

Fief

piece of land given to vassals for services provided for lord

Vassal

received protection and land from lord in exchange for loyalty and services

Mutual Obligations

the agreement between a vassal and lord, vassal gives labor and loyalty and lord gives protection and land

Knight

soldiers in Medieval times who were heavily trained that fought for powerful noblemen

Franks

Germanic people that conquered parts of Europe after the fall of Rome notably lead by Clovis

Germanic Traditions

roots in scandinavian and has notable influences in the roman and Holy Roman Empire

Vikings

scandinavian sea warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe and the known world from the 9th to 11th centuries

Saddle

a device built to support an armored soldier on horseback

Stirrups

a device built to allow armored soldiers to stand on horseback and use bow and arrows against enemies

Battle of Tours

a battle between Frankish forces led by Charles Martel against the Moors who were violent Muslim invaders. Charles Martel won using expert defense and attack methods including standing with shields barricading area so Moors couldn't advance

Manorialism

the relationship between a serf and a lord

Manor

a piece of land granted to lord by king in which lord built mansion with villages for serfs and vassals

Serf

a peasant bound to the land they were born on or sold into

Self-sufficient

making all the necessities needed for survival without needing outside resources

Barter

to trade by exchanging one commodity for another

Class Structure

used to define groups of people based on income level and educational levels

Women’s Social Status

primarily seen as wives, mothers, and caregivers, had no power