History Study Guide: The Middle Ages

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary from a History textbook focusing on the Middle Ages.

Islam

A monotheistic religion that emerged in the 7th century in Mecca, based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Kor

án

The holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Caliph

The chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, seen as the successor to Muhammad.

Feudalism

A dominant social system in medieval Europe, based on land tenure and service, creating a hierarchy of obligations.

Lord

In the feudal system, a person who controlled land and could grant estates to vassals.

Manor

A basic economic and social unit in feudal Europe, consisting of a lord's estate and the surrounding lands.

Serf

An agricultural laborer under the feudal system bound to the land and required to work for the lord.

Corvée

Unpaid labor required by a lord from his serfs.

Privilege

A special right, advantage, or immunity granted to a person or group of people; knights, nobles or citizens of a town could all have unique privileges.

Knight

A man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor.

Nobleman

A member of the aristocracy with a hereditary title.

Order

A social group or class, especially in the medieval period (e.g., clergy, nobility, commoners).

Citizen

A resident of a town or city who is not of noble birth and is entitled to certain rights and privileges.

Guild

An association of craftsmen or merchants formed for mutual aid and protection.

Catholic

Relating to the Roman Catholic Church.

Orthodox

Conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; especially in religion, relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Pope

The bishop of Rome as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Archbishop

The chief bishop responsible for a large district.

Diocese

A district under the pastoral care of a bishop in the Christian Church.

Archdiocese

The district or see (area of jurisdiction) of an archbishop.

Tithes

One tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the church and clergy.

Celibacy

The state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations.

Monk

A member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Benedictine

Relating to St. Benedict or the Benedictine order of monks.

Franciscan

Relating to St. Francis of Assisi or the Franciscan order of friars.

Pauline

Relating to Saint Paul or his writings.

Codex

An ancient manuscript text in book form.

Heretic

A person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.

Inquisition

A period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.

Monastery

A building or buildings occupied by a community of monks, living under religious vows.

Saint

A person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded as being in heaven after death; a person of exceptional holiness.

Romanesque Style

An architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches, massive structures, and small windows.

Gothic Style

A style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. Originating in 12th-century France and lasting into the 16th century, its characteristics were pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses; use of stained glass and other decoration.

Renaissance

The revival of art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th–16th centuries.

Tribe

A social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations together with varied folklore and tradition.

Prince

A hereditary sovereign, especially of a principality.

Conquest

The subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by use of military force.

Double Conquest Theory

Relating to the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin in stages (first Avars, then Hungarians).

Avars

A nomadic people who arrived in Europe in the late 6th century.

Kabars

Three rebel tribes that joined the Hungarians on their journey to the Carpathian Basin.

Blood Oath

A ritual agreement often sealed with blood, symbolizing unity and loyalty.

Runes

Characters in any of several alphabets used by Germanic peoples from about the 3rd to the 13th centuries; characters in a script that was used for writing by Germanic people.

Marauding

Raiding and plundering; typically committed by nomadic people.

Székelys

A Hungarian people living in Transylvania.

King

The male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.

County

A territorial division of land established for administrative purposes. The medieval kingdoms used counties to control and establish local areas of importance. As time progressed the authority of the county eroded.

Palatine

A high-ranking official in medieval kingdoms, acting as the king's deputy.

Count

A nobleman in charge of a County and responsible for its administration and defense.

Servant

A term for Royal Servants: knights who pledge loyalty directly to the king. They were given similar rights to noblemen.

Resistance Clause

A clause in legal documents that permitted resistance to the sovereign under specific circumstances.

Fundamental Noble Rights

Rights belonging to all noblemen that could not be revoked by a king: no taxation without representation, right to bare the holy crown, protection from illegal imprisonment.

Cumans

A nomadic group that settled in Hungary in the 13th century.

Tartars/Mongols

A nomadic group of warriors that invaded much of Europe in the 13th century.

Saxons

A German population invited to Transylvania, primarily during the 12th and 13th century. They brought their own laws and cultures, contributing greatly to the regions economic structure.

Golden Florin

A gold coin of Florence that was used in hungary and other similar areas.

Royale

A source of revenue for the monarchy.

Gate Tax

A tax collected for each gate that a wagon travels through in a given region.

Ninth

90% of every product goes to the producer, 10% goes to the landlord.

Bandearium

The personal army of a noble or lord.

Personal union

the same person is the monarch of two different nations.

Upper and Lower Nobility

Upper came from noble family who were richer. Lower: not as rich, but still had personal rights and freedoms.

Royal Free City

A special type of town that reported only to the king.

Mining Town

a town established around the location where ore or minerals are commonly extracted from the ground.

Market Town

a town that has the right to host weekly markets.

Estates Monarchy

a constitutional monarchy of a Medieval or Early Modern nature with a king and a parliament.

Estates Assembly

Medieval Assembly where the different estates met(land owners, citizens)…

Governor

a person that rules instead of a Monarch

Wagon Fort

A defensive line of wagons that can be formed quickly.

Fortress

a place that is fortified against attack.

Sultan

A muslim sovereign.

Spahi

Cavalry that protected the regions of the Ottoman Empire.

Janissaries

An elite section of the Ottoman army that consisted of warriors enslaved as children.

Extraordinary War Tax

taxed authorized by the Nobility to finance war efforts.

Chimney Money

tax for amount of chimneys a common household has.

Black Army

An elite army recruited to defend Hungary from the Ottoman empire.

Mercenary

Soldier who fights where for anyone willing to pay them.

Chancellor

Head of the system responsible for administrating royal documents.

Corvina

a Medieval era book.

Holy Crown

Symbol of the Hungarian Kingdom: Crown of Saint Stephen.

Holy Crown Doctrine

Theoretical ideal of a nation where the King only can rule with the crown and within its borders. Legal system created to limit monarch authority.

Dji
had

A struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam.

Despotism

The use of absolute power to govern.

Manorial Court

The judicial rights a landowner has over the people in his territory.

Feudal Lord

A man who had control over a segment of territory and the workers and property within it.

Vassal

A person who is under the control of a lord.

Magna Carta Libertatum

Set of rules implemented in great britain that restricted the Monarch and established a series of new rights.

Primogeniture

Land can only be inherited by the first born heir, maintaining larger estates.

Familiarity

System where a family voluntarily places itself under the protection of a more influential nobleman.

Royal and Noble County

Royal refers to counties established for regions of strategic importance. Noble refers to counties established in regions of little importance and governed and taxed by a higher nobleman.

Mendicant Order

a religious people with the primary goal of poverty. Examples: Franciscans, Dominicans

Patriarch

The head of a branch of Eastern Orthodox churches

Crusades

A series of religious wars to control parts of the middle east to reclaim them for Christianity.

Picture Chronicle

History book describing medieval hungarian tales, written around 1360. Embellished accounts with artistic images to educate.

Scholasticism

Philosophy to teach and explore Christian theology and how it can mesh with science/other ideas.

Legend

An ancient story.

Finnugor

People living from Finland through parts of Western Russia. It is believed that early Hungarians may have branched off from this region.

Hungary Great Prince

The political and military leader of Hungary.

Annuity

An annual subsidy.

Governor

A leader of a territory (banate).

Script

A religious story.