Key Concepts of Medieval and Early Modern Europe

These flashcards cover key concepts, figures, and events from medieval to early modern Europe, useful for exam preparation.

Clovis

King of the Franks, first Germanic ruler to convert to Christianity and unite the Frankish tribes.

Charles Martel

Frankish military leader known as 'The Hammer', who defeated Muslim forces at the Battle of Tours.

Battle of Tours

732 battle where Charles Martel stopped Muslim expansion into Western Europe, preserving Christianity.

Carolingian Renaissance

A revival of learning and culture during Charlemagne's reign, focusing on Latin literacy and education.

Vikings

Norse seafarers known for raiding and trading across Europe from the 8th to the 11th century.

Fiefs

Parcels of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service.

Vassal

A person who receives a fief in exchange for loyalty, service, and protection to their lord.

Manor

The estate of a lord, including land, villages, and peasants; a self-sufficient economic unit.

Serfs

Peasants bound to the land on a manor, working in exchange for protection from the lord.

Feudalism

A political and social system where land is exchanged for loyalty and military service, dominant in medieval Europe.

William the Conqueror

Duke of Normandy who invaded England in 1066, becoming King and introducing the feudal system.

Scholasticism

A medieval method of learning that sought to reconcile faith with reason, associated with thinkers like Thomas Aquinas.

7 Liberal Arts

Core curriculum of medieval education made up of Trivium (Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic) and Quadrivium (Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy).

Vernacular Literature

Literature written in the common language instead of Latin, making ideas more accessible.

Guilds

Associations of craftsmen or merchants controlling quality and training in trades in medieval towns.

Romanesque

An early medieval architectural style characterized by thick walls and round arches.

Gothic

An architectural style from the 12th to 16th centuries known for pointed arches and flying buttresses.

Reconquista

A series of campaigns where Christian kingdoms reconquered the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.

Lay investiture

Conflict over whether secular rulers or church leaders should appoint church officials.

Crusades

Religious wars initiated by Christians to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control.

Black Death

A devastating plague in the mid-14th century that killed about one-third of Europe's population.

Great Schism

The split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417 with multiple popes competing for authority.

Hundred Years War

Conflicts between England and France over territorial claims, notable for Joan of Arc's involvement.

Joan of Arc

National heroine of France during the Hundred Years' War who claimed visions directing her to support Charles VII.

Pogroms

Violent attacks against Jewish communities in medieval Europe often fueled by anti-Semitic sentiments.

Renaissance

Cultural rebirth starting in Italy in the 14th century, marked by renewed interest in classical culture and humanism.

Michelangelo

Famous Renaissance artist known for his sculptures and painting, including the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Leonardo da Vinci

Renaissance polymath known for masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and contributions to various fields.

Individualism

Philosophical idea emphasizing individual achievement and self-expression that emerged during the Renaissance.

Humanism

Renaissance movement focusing on human potential and classical texts, fostering education and creativity.

Secularism

Focus on worldly matters during the Renaissance, advocating for a separation between church and state.

Medici Family

Powerful Italian banking family who were major patrons of the Renaissance and influenced politics in Florence.

New Monarchies

Centralized monarchies in the late 15th and 16th centuries aimed at consolidating power.

Christian Humanism

A branch of Humanism that combined classical learning with a commitment to Christianity and reforming the Church.

Protestant Reformation

Religious movement in the 16th century aimed at reforming the Catholic Church, sparked by Martin Luther's 95 Theses.

Martin Luther

German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation by criticizing Church practices.

John Calvin

Key figure in the Reformation who developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination.

Jesuits

Society of Jesus founded by Ignatius of Loyola, critical in the Catholic Counter-Reformation.

Anabaptists

Radical Reformation group advocating for adult baptism and religious freedom.

Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince significant in sponsoring voyages and advancing maritime exploration in the 15th century.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered large portions of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Columbian Exchange

Wide-ranging transfer of plants, animals, and cultures between the Old World and the New World after 1492.

Triangular Trade

Trade routes among Europe, Africa, and the Americas from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Middle Passage

The horrific journey enslaved Africans endured when transported to the Americas.

Spanish Armada

Fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, defeated by the English navy.

Mercantilism

Economic theory emphasizing national wealth through trade and accumulation of precious metals.

Ottoman Empire

A powerful Islamic empire that lasted from 1300 to 1922, known for military prowess and cultural tolerance.