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