Unit A terms list

pillage

to rob with open violence; take booty

feudalism

medieval political system where monarchs and lesser nobles made alliances based on exchanging land grants for loyalty

noble

belonging to a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy

fief

an estate with its peasant workers granted to a noble in exchange for loyalty and military help

vassal

a noble who held land from and served a higher-ranking lord

homage

formal ceremony establishing feudal ties between a lord and a vassal

tournament

medieval sport in which knights competed to show their fighting skills

chivalry

Code of conduct for medieval knights, based on ideals of honor and courtesy

longship

A long narrow boat with a shallow draw that was capable of traveling across oceans and up rivers (usually used by Vikings)

serf

A peasant laborer legally bound to the lands of a noble

sacrament

one of the established formal rituals of the Roman Catholic Church, such as a baptism, holy communication, or matrimony

Scandinavia

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and sometimes Finland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands

abbess

the director of a convent

cardinal

high-ranking official of Roman Catholic Church, appointed by pope

hersey

disagreement with or denial of the basic teachings of a religion

friar

member of a Catholic order who preached in towns and practiced poverty

common law

body of english law based on tradition and court decisions, not specific laws

the Norse

The people of the north; Norwegians

Viking

to travel overseas, explore, and raid in search of treasure and/or land

excommunication

formal exclusion from membership or participation in a church