World History-Ch 12: The Middle Ages

what was life like before the frankish rulers

disorder and change, barbarian invasions and settlement that brought new customs/lifestyles

what changed with the barbarian invasions

political and social patterns

what was the time period of when European order began to be restored

middle ages

who were the franks and what did they do

germanic tribe that had a lasting impact of European history and shaped new culture

who was clovis and who were his successors 

first king of the franks, merovingians

where did the franks control militarily

gaul(France)

what religion was Clovis and how was It helpful

christian, received support of catholic church

what are the papal states

gift to Rome from frank’s in exchange for a blessing from the pope

what did monarchs believe about the pope’s blessing

it came directly from God

who had direct sovereign rule of the papal states

the pope

who was the greatest of all Frankish kings

charlemagne

what did Charlemagne do

worked to build new Rome, spread church teachings, christian beliefs

when did he become emperor of rome

christmas day 800

how was charlemagne’s empire different than people before him

empire split into regions governed by counts that had to swear an oath of fidelity, appointed messengers that would check on counts making sure they upheld their oaths, place large value of education and building schools for nobility, encouraged people to convert to christianity

what is an oath of fidelity

promise to act on behalf as if they were emperor, ensured counts ruled effectively under his command

how did charlemagne’s empire decline

invasion by vikings after he died

who were the vikings

originated in Scandinavian countries with customs and myths centered on pagan gods, democratic govt, farmers and hunters, village raiding

what did Vikings do with the dead

bury boats and tools in a burial mound for the afterlife

what is feudalism

small local organizations established in 900s that shaped social and political structure

what is a lord

powerful owner who owned large area of land

what is a vassal

lesser noble who works the land and promised loyalty and military service to the lord

what is a fief

actual land granted in exchange

what else could a vassal do with the land

divide further and give to others below him

what is the pyramid of power in feudalism

king→lords/church clergy→knights→peasants and serfs

what is primogeniture

system of inheritance that took effect as land passed down thru gens

in theory

every land holder was a vassal to the king even the church

what was important in warfare

evolution of knight

what was interesting about a knight’s armor

they could be so heavy that the knights had to be lifted onto their horse

what were some of the decrees that the church had

prohibition of violence near churches or on holy days

what were the 3 ways that the feudal justice system offered trials

trial by battle, trial by compurgation, trial by ordeal

what is trial by battle

duel between accuser and accused which determines innocence/guilt

what is trial by compurgation

each side is represented by someone

trial by ordeal

accuser has to survive a particular ordeal and if their wounds were healed quickly they were innocent

what shaped the economy

manorialism

what were manors

large farming estate that included manor houses, cultivated land, woodland, pastures, villages

how did people live on manors

self sufficient and produced what they needed

what are serfs

peasants who spent days working the field

what was a special rule for the serfs

they couldn’t leave the land without permission

what was the average lifespan during this time and why

35 years because of starvation, disease and warfare

what were the characteristics of castles

simple structure for protection, moats were built on flat land for extra protection

what is a keep

portion of castle with living quarters-main part that’s dark and damp

what is chivalry

code of conduct that brought changes to feudal society and dictated how a knight behaves towards others

what are the 2 stages of training

first stage-boy is knight’s page, 2nd stage- squire

what is a squire

takes care of knight’s armor and weapons and accompanies knight into battle

what were knights expected to do

fight fairly and courageous in battle

did chivalry apply to all classes

no only one- not the serfs

why did the power of the church expand

europe’s govt was weak and expanded politically and socially and economically

who was the leading landowner in feudal society

church but king was still on top

what is the hierarchy of clergy

priest→bishop→pope

what do priests do

lowest rank who directly serves the people, administer 5/7 sacraments(holy orders and confirmation)

what do bishops do

manage diocese

what is the official church of the bishop

cathedral

what does the Pope do

has supreme authority, extended church authority

what is secular clergy

clergy who give sacraments and preach gospel, ex. priests, bishops, pope

what is regular clergy

clergy who live according to strict rules, ex. monks, nuns

what did monks and nuns believe that they had to do to live a Christian life

they had to withdraw from the world and temptations

how did they choose to serve God

fasting, prayer, self denial

what is monasticism

religious communities made up of monks and nuns way of life

who was st benedict of rome

young roman who was upset with the corruption of the world and left to establish his own monastery in the mts of italy, became a saint

what were some of the rules that Benedict had for his monastery and what were they called

everything they used/wore belonged to the community, benedictine rule

in papal state, what was the pope

political and religious leader

what is canon law

church’s own code of law where they had their own courts and clergy- could be tried

what was feared by christians

excommunication-complete separation from church

what is interdiction

all churches in a given region were closed

who were heretics

people who denied church’s teachings and believed to deserve eternal damnation

what is a tithe

church’s tax on every christian family that took 10% of their income

what was lay investiture

king appoints friend/relative to clergy position

what is simony

buying higher positions within the church

who were the Franciscans and dominicans

church reform started by st Francis and st dominic