Introduction to Medieval Europe Vocabulary

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers essential terms, roles, and events of Medieval Europe as described in the lecture notes.

Clergy

People who work for the Christian Church, such as priests, bishops, and the Pope.

Bishops

Important Church leaders who were in charge of large areas and many churches.

Pope

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Monks

Men who chose to live a religious life, often in a monastery.

Nuns

Women who chose to live a religious life, often in a convent.

Monasteries

Places where monks lived, prayed, and worked.

Convents

Places where nuns lived, prayed, and worked.

Charlemagne

A powerful king who ruled much of Western Europe and became emperor in $800$ CE.

Knights

Trained soldiers who fought for a lord or king, usually on horseback.

Fiefs

Land given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service.

Lords

Powerful landowners who controlled land and had people working for them.

Vassal

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

Feudalism

A system where kings and lords gave land to others in exchange for loyalty and military service.

Chivalry

A code of behavior for knights, including bravery, loyalty, and respect.

Manor

A large farm or estate where a lord and peasants lived and worked.

Guilds

Groups of people who had the same job or trade and worked together to protect their interests.

Crusades

Religious wars in which European Christians fought to take control of the Holy Land.

Joan of Arc

A young French woman who helped lead French soldiers during the Hundred Years' War.

Black Death

A deadly disease that killed millions of people in Europe during the $1300\text{s}$.