Unit 1: Middle Ages

Middle Ages

1000 year time period in Europe between the Fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaisance

Medieval

term that describes anything related to the Middle Ages

Fall of Rome

The event that began the Middle Ages in Europe

Feudalism

the class system that existed during medieval Europe where land and services were traded.

Catholicism

the only Christian denomination that existed during the Middle Ages. Had a lot of power and was in charge of education

Pope

the head of the Catholic church who had more power than kings.

excommunicate

the power to ban someone from Church. Only the pope had this power during the Middle Ages

Fief

the land that is exchanged for service

Vassal

the person who has received the fief in exchange for their loyalty and service

Monarchy

government where king/queen rules

Monarch

Ruler normally a king or queen

Noble

wealthy landowners

Knight

warriors that served their nobles and king in exchange for fief

Chivalry

the code that knights followed that stressed honoring their lord and king, respecting women, and helping the defenseless

Peasant

largest class in Feudalism. Served those above them in exchange for land, protection, etc.

Serf

lowest group in Feudalism. They were bound to the land they worked on and had less rights than anyone else during the Middle Ages

Magna Carta

document that restricted the rights of medieval kings in England making the first constitutional monarchy

Absolute Monarchy

a monarchy where the king has absolute power

Constitutional Monarchy

a monarchy where the ruler has limited power

*Due Process

legal guarantee that the government must treat citizens accused of a crime fairly and follow certain procedures

Muhammad

the prophet that founded Islam

Qur’an/Koran

the holy book of Islam

Islam

monotheistic religion that believes in Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. Followers called Muslims

5 Pillars of Islam

5 main practices of Islam

Mosque

a temple for Muslims

Crusades

series of religious wars fought over 200 years between the Christians and Muslims over the Holy Land

Holy Land

modern day Israel and an area important to Jews, Christians, and the Muslims

Black Death

the disease that wiped out 1/3 to ½ of the European population

Bubo

a painful swollen lymph node and a symptom of the Black Death

Renaissance

the event that ended the Middle Ages when there was a rebirth of learning, art, etc.

secular

not having a connection to religion

Printing Press

technological advancement that increased literacy and the spread of information.

Martin Luther

leader of the revolutionary Protestant Reformation.

Protestant Reformation

religious movement that led to the creation of multiple Christian denominations and weakened the power of the Catholic Church.