Life in Britain during the Middle Ages

A set of vocabulary flashcards detailing the social structure, legal practices, religion, and historical invasions of medieval Britain based on the lecture notes.

Trial by Ordeal

The belief in early medieval England that God would show who was innocent through specific physical tests.

Ordeal by fire

A trial where a person had to hold a hot iron; if the wound healed well, they were deemed innocent.

Ordeal by water

A trial where a person was thrown into water; floating was considered a sign of guilt.

Peasant women

Women with limited rights who were responsible for farming, cooking, and raising children.

Noble women

Women who could manage the manor when the lord was away and were sometimes educated.

Monasteries

Settings where monks and nuns lived, spending their time praying, copying books, and helping the poor.

Anglo-Saxons

Groups from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands who settled in Britain from the 5th to 11th Century after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Vikings

People from Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) who attacked and eventually settled in northern and eastern England.

The Battle of Hastings

The 1066 battle where William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold, starting Norman rule in England.

William, Duke of Normandy

The leader from France who invaded England in 1066 and introduced the feudal system and castles.

Feudal system

The social and land-ownership structure brought to England by the Normans.

Lord of the manor

The most important person in a medieval village who owned the land and controlled local justice and the economy.