Medieval Period Quiz

hierarchy

social ordering system

diocese

a small unit under the pastoral care of a bishop under the christian church

archdiocese

determines various levels of power, churches head by archbishop

tithe

a church tax

feudalism

social system in medieval europe to control land ownership and protection

fief

land given to noble as a reward

papal states

land conquered by pepin the short and given to the pope

heresy

act of defiance against catholic church; go against church teachings

manorialism

a medieval european system economic, social, and political system. linking nobles and peasants to land

manor

self sufficient area of land run by noble

pope

head of catholic church

cardinals

advisors to pope

archbishops

head of archdiocese

bishops

managed diocese (smaller area of churches)

priests

head of each separate church

monks

members of church by copying books, caring for sick/poor, etc.

charles martel

led battle of tours (franks against muslims)

serfs

lowest level of society; work on feudal manors

freemen

worked on the manors, but had freedom to leave

charlemagne

1st holy roman emperor

lords/vassals

elite upper class; nobles that the king gave land (fiefs) to in return for their military service

why did the roman catholic church grow in importance during the early medieval period?

needed leadership and stability in a time of chaos

how or why was the pope considered a political leader as well as a religious leader?

as the church grew in importance, so did his authority. he also gains political leadership of the Papal States

how did the roman catholic church play a role in the economy (think money)?

had the power to tax (tithes)

what was power based on during the medieval period?

land ownership

why did peasants freely give their lands to nobles during this time period?

in return for protection

who were lords and vassals? what role did they play in the feudal contract?

nobles of the land. worked for the king. lords were the higher nobles, vassals were the lesser nobles

what is the difference between the two main groups of peasant workers on the manor?

serfs were bound to the land by contracts; freemen could leave if they wished

why was the charles martel's battle of tours so important to history?

charles martel led the battle of tours which had ensured the survival of christianity in europe

what did pepin the short do for the pope?

protected the area around Rome and eventually gave him the land (papal states)

what title was charlesmagne given by the pope?

holy roman emperor

what two future powerful kingdoms were created upon louis the Pius' death?

france and germany

what was alfred the great known for?

ordering 1st chronicle of the anglo-saxons to be written in the language of the people

why was the anglo-saxons chronicle important?

1st history of people written in their common language

what are the vikings most well known for?

shipbuilding and sailing

what other parts of the world did the vikings explore?

iceland, north america

what were the monks responsible for doing during the medieval period?

caring for the sick/homeless, missionaries, copied records by hand, etc.