Middle Ages/Medieval Europe

Feudalism

a system of promises and loyalty between lords and vassals involving the distribution of land - and the peasants who worked it

Knights

a warrior in medieval Europe who fought on horseback and could be given land by a lord

vassal

someone who swears loyalty to a person higher up than them

Manor System

part of Feudalism: a knight allowed peasants to farm land on his estate in return for food or other payment; consisted of farmland, large manor/castle, skilled workers, peasants, serfs

serfs

A person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord

fief

land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service

Magna Carta

a document limiting the power of the English monarch- caused by King John's abuse of power

Magna Carta Effects

guaranteed rights to certain English citizens, lead to the creation of Parliament, required the monarch to follow the law; right to habeas corpus (trial before a jury); influenced future government documents including the US Constitution and Bill of Rights

Parliament

A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation- used in England

Monastery

A community of monks; they contributed to history due to their hand-copying of books, helping to preserve ancient texts we still have today

illuminated manuscript

a handwritten book decorated with bright colors and precious metals, often created by monks

The Book of Kells

A famous Irish manuscript produced by monks

Black Death

A deadly plague (mostly Bubonic) that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351

Bubonic Plague Spread

rats infected with a bacteria were bitten by fleas which later bit humans; increased trading from different continents spread disease faster; rats and fleas jumped aboard ships; people didn't understand germ theory or have medical knowledge of today

Bubonic Plague Effects

up to 33% of Europeans died; Manor system fell apart --> Labor shortages; Fear and lead to blaming Jews because they were different and a minority, increase in Anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) violence; Trade decreased for a while

Crusades

A series of holy wars from 1096-1270 AD undertaken by European Christians to attempt to take the Holy Land (Palestine/Israel) from Muslim rule.

Crusades Effects

Increase in trade between Europe and Asia, but also increase in distrust between Christian and Muslim groups

Christianity

Spread further through Europe because of the missionary efforts of the Pope