Chronicles: Chapter 4 - Life and death in medieval times

Apprentice

The first stage of becoming a master craftsman.

Black Death

A disease spread by fleas on rats (also called the Bubonic Plague).

Cathedral

A large church in a diocese where a bishop said mass.

Commons

A shared area of land where villagers let their animals graze.

Curfew

Sunset, when church bells rang to signal that all candles and fires had to be put out.

Fallow

A field left empty for one year to allow it time to restore its nutrients.

Feudal system

A way of dividing power and land ownership. The king or lord gave land to his vassals in return for money, loyalty and service.

Fief

Land given to a vassal by a king or lord.

Friar

A type of monk. They preferred to travel from place to place.

Guild

An organisation of master craftsmen that ensured high standards were maintained within their particular trade.

Journeyman

Someone who had completed their training as an apprentice and could obtain paid work with a master craftsman.

Jousting

A tournament where two knights on horseback charge at each other and try to knock each other off their horses using special lances.

Keep

The stone building inside the walls of a castle where the lord and lady lived.

Knight

A professional soldier who fought on horseback.

Master craftsman

A journeyman who has made a masterpiece and joined a guild.

Portcullis

A heavy iron gate that could be lowered to protect the entrance of a castle during an attack.

Pottage

A thick soup made from oats and vegetables and eaten by peasants.

Solemn vows

The vows of obedience, chastity and poverty made by monks and nuns.

Squire

The second stage of training to become a knight. They learn archery and riding on horseback, he looked after his lords weapons and horse