Medieval History: The Middle Ages, Crusades, and Plagues

Tetrarchy

Diocletian divides the empire into four governable regions. Designed to make it easier to manage the Roman Empire, ends up creating long-term problems with multiple people claiming to be emperor.

Constantine the Great

Opens up Roman Empire to Christianity. First Christian Roman Emperor. Converts after vision and victorious battle. Defeats Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Note: he does not make the Roman Empire's official religion Christianity, just ends persecution of Christians.

Edict of Milan

Official doctrine that ends religious persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire.

Emperor Theodosius

Makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Ends the era of religious tolerance established by Constantine.

Nicene Creed

Solidifies the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Helps create a structured and more hierarchical church.

Ecumenical councils

Meetings of bishops to discuss important theological information.

Constantinople

Capital established under Constantine. Shifted power within the Roman Empire East.

The Huns

Group of peoples known for horseback skills. Invade Germany from the East and displace German tribes such as Goths, Vandals, etc. Germanic tribes flow into Roman Empire.

Atilla the Hun

Leader of the Huns, primary reason the Huns are so successful militarily.

Foedarati

Germanic peoples that agreed to fight on behalf of the Roman Empire, but were not Romans. In exchange, they were allowed to settle Roman lands.

Alaric and Stilicho

Two Germanic leaders who played a role in the Sacking of Rome.

Late Antiquity

Time period between 150 A.D. and 750 A.D. with substantial shifts in power and many changes throughout the Mediterranean.

Justinian I

Emperor of the Byzantine Empire who makes substantial changes in both law and religious matters.

Hagia Sophia

A significant architectural achievement built by Justinian I.

Piety laws

Laws introduced by Justinian I related to religious reforms.

Code of Justinian

Legal reforms introduced by Justinian to help combine and renew old Roman laws.

Theodora

Wife of Justinian, helped introduce religious reforms and was supportive of her husband's reign.

Iconoclasm

A policy of banning the worship of icons in the church; Eastern church bans, Western church does not.

Great Schism

Division between Eastern and Western church.

Patriarchy in the East

Many patriarchs, no one single head authority of the church in the Eastern church.

Papal supremacy

The idea that the pope's word is the final say, which the Eastern church rejects.

Charlemagne

Key figure in the re-establishment of the Western Roman Empire, becomes New Roman Emperor.

Pepin the Short

Historical figure mentioned in the context of the re-establishment of the Western Roman Empire.

Viking invasions

Invasions that settled many places in Europe, mirroring Germanic invasions but were more widespread.

Germanic invasions

Invasions that led to the establishment of kingdoms in the Roman Empire.

Impact of invasions on Western Europe

Disrupted Western European life and put pressure on governments/monarchs to protect people.

Invasions in Western Europe

Various invasions that took place throughout Europe after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

Eastern church

Church that bans the worship of icons and rejects papal supremacy.

Western church

Church that does not ban the worship of icons.

Invasions' effects

The various invasions had a significant impact on the structure and stability of Western Europe.

The Middle Ages

A huge stretch of time from roughly 500 A.D. to 1350 A.D.

Dark Ages

Represents a decline in Western European living standards during the Middle Ages.

Clovis

Establishes the kingdom of the Franks in modern day France and adopts Christianity.

Clotilde

Wife of Clovis who convinces him to adopt Christianity.

Carolingian Dynasty

Dynasty established by Pepin the Short; brings the Frankish kingdom to new heights.

Donation of Pepin

Pepin the Short donates land to the Catholic Church, helping establish the Papal States.

Viking Raids

Raids throughout Europe by Vikings.

The Great Heathen Army

Western European description of Viking raids in England.

Ivar the Boneless

Leader of the Great Heathen Army.

Magyars

Descendants of Huns and Scythians; skilled horseback riders from Central Europe that began to raid Western Europe.

Umayyad Caliphate

Islamic Empire that expands into Spain/Iberian Peninsula.

Battle of Tours

Battle where Muslim forces were stopped by Charles 'the Hammer' Martel.

Feudalism

A system that emerged due to invasions and became an interdependent system that protected Europeans.

Societal Structure in the Middle Ages

Explains the roles of monarchs, nobles, vassals, and serfs in the feudal system.

Urban II

Calls for the Crusades and sees an opportunity to help the Byzantine Empire and reclaim the holy land.

Crusades

Military campaigns called by Urban II, enticing various people to join.

Sons of Noblemen

Enticed to join the Crusades for various reasons, including opportunities for land and glory.

Papal States

Territory established by the Donation of Pepin, controlled by the Pope.

Charles 'the Hammer' Martel

Leader who stopped Muslim forces at the Battle of Tours.

Christianity

Religion adopted by Clovis and spread by Charlemagne throughout Europe.

Fief or fiefdom

A plot of land which a noble or vassal rules over.

Vassals

People who swear loyalty to a monarch or noblemen in exchange for land.

Serfs

Peasants who work the land, but have no claim to it.

Manor System

A manor located on a piece of land in which a noble rules over it and serfs work the land.

Tithe

"One tenth" - essentially a form of payment proportional to your income/production.

Knights

Soldiers who exchange loyalty for land.

Chivalry

A code of conduct for knights, especially regarding how to treat women.

Pope Urban II

Calls for the crusades after plea for help from Byzantine emperor Alexios I.

First Crusade

Most successful of the Crusades; Christians capture Jerusalem.

Fourth Crusade

Crusade that ends up being a disaster; Christians attack Constantinople.

Failure of crusades

Led to change with European society, monarchs consolidate power, and feudal system severely diminished.

Ferdinand and Isabella

Reconquista and removal of Muslims and Jews from Spain.

Silk Road

The highway in which goods flow from the far east to the Middle East and then eventually to Europe.

Bubonic Plague/Black Death

A plague that spread across Europe, Asia, and Africa that was spread by fleas and rats.

Plague doctor

Doctor who was charged with treating patients affected by bubonic plague.

Historical impact of the plague

Half population of Europe and parts of Asia believed to have died.

Impact of the plague on people

Changed the way in which people perceived government/society/religion.

Blame during the plague

Led people to blame outside groups such as the Jews.

Crusades' impact on trade

Trade opens up as a result of the Crusades; Europeans desire exotic goods from Asia.

Monarchs' power consolidation

Monarchs consolidate power as a result of the failure of the crusades.