Mongols and Middle Ages

The Mongols

Nomadic group from Central Asia known as the largest empire in history led by their brutal leader, Chingis Khan

Chingis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire, also known as Genghis Khan, who used brutal tactics for conquest

Cerealization

Major shift in Europe’s agriculture, prioritizing grain and food production.

Iron Plow

Notable innovation that helped efficiently deal with soil tilling.

Crop Rotation

The practice of rotating when to plant crops to keep the soil’s effectiveness in farming

Feudalism

A system of land ownership where nobles would give land to people in return for loyalty.

Lords

Nobles who owned land and had control over serfs

Serfs

Peasants in servitude for a lord in return for protection.

Primogeniture

The practice in which the first son of a family inherits the family’s land, money, and titles

Guilds

A group of merchants or workers who set standards and prices for their profession (ex. Blacksmiths)

The Crusades

Religiously driven military campaigns initiated by Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

Pope Urban II

The leader of the Catholic church at the time who held high authority and influence who initiated the first crusade

The Black Plague

A deadly plague that killed one third of Europe’s population, shifting the social and economics of Europe.

The Church’s role in Europe

Held high authority among the population due to the high population of Christians living in Europ