Feudalism and the Middle Ages Assessment

Comprehensive review flashcards covering key concepts from the Feudalism and the Middle Ages Assessment, including feudal hierarchy, medieval society, religion, the Crusades, and the Bubonic plague.

What is one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire?

Not enough protection causing people to invade

In what year did the Roman Empire fall?

$$476\text{ CE}$$

Which religion was popular during the Middle Ages?

Christianity

What type of government is it when a king gives huge amounts of land to lords in exchange for their loyalty?

Feudalism

What is a piece of land called that is given to you by your king in exchange for your loyalty?

A fief

What did a lord become to the king when he pledged to him his loyalty?

A vassal

In feudalism, where did most peasants live that was ruled and governed by a lord?

A manor

What was a peasant called who could not leave the lord's land?

A serf

What is a pilgrimage?

A religious journey to the Holy Land

Because most people could not read or write during the Middle Ages, what did cathedrals use to teach stories from the Bible?

Art

What is a crusade?

A religious war

Who was fighting during the crusades?

Muslims and Christians

What are the large egg-shaped boils that form as a result of the plague known as?

Buboes

Where did the plague originate from?

Asia

What human activity led to the early spread of the plague throughout Europe?

Trade

What two animals were responsible for spreading Bubonic plague all over Europe?

Fleas and rats

Since there were fewer laborers around, how did the plague help those who survived?

Survivors were often able to get better work conditions, more pay, and more rights.

What were ways in which the plague could be transferred?

Bodily fluids such as blood, and sneezing or coughing

What was the primary role of a monk during the Middle Ages?

Devoted life to prayer and study

What was the primary role of a merchant during the Middle Ages?

Engaged in trade and commerce

What was the main purpose of a castle's defensive features like moats and drawbridges?

To protect people from enemy attacks

What was the social structure of the feudal system ordered from highest to lowest rank?

King, Lords, Knights, Serfs

What defined the primary role of a 'Knight' within the social structure of the Middle Ages?

Military service and protection in exchange for land

Which group within the feudal system was responsible for farming food and the manual labor required to maintain the manor?

Peasants/Serfs

What is the correct term for the code of honor followed by knights during the Middle Ages?

Chivalry