Key Concepts of the Middle Ages

A set of flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the Middle Ages, extracted from lecture notes.

Middle Age

Period between 500 to 1500 CE in Western Europe, also known as the Medieval Period.

Feudalism

A political and social system of exchange where land, wealth, and protection are exchanged for loyalty and service.

Charlemagne

Frankish king crowned as Holy Roman Emperor in 800, known for uniting Germanic tribes and spreading Christianity.

Clovis

The first Germanic leader to convert to Christianity, influencing his subjects to do the same.

The Crusades

Religious wars initiated to retake the Holy Land from Muslim control, significantly impacting relations between Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Vikings

Germanic people from Scandinavia known for their seafaring and raiding of coastal areas in Europe.

The Manor System

A self-sustaining economic system that included the manor house, lands, and village structures.

Roman Catholic Church

The strongest unifying force in Western Europe, dominating religious and social life.

The Bubonic Plague

A devastating pandemic that killed about one-third of Europe’s population in the 14th century, leading to societal changes.

The Magna Carta

A document signed in 1215 that limited the powers of the king and laid the groundwork for modern democracy.

The Reconquista

The long effort by Spanish Christian kingdoms to drive Muslims out of Spain.

Anglo-Saxons

Germanic tribes that settled in England, forming small kingdoms that eventually united into England.