Medieval History and Religious Movements Vocabulary

A comprehensive list of vocabulary terms and definitions derived from lecture notes on the Medieval period, the rise of Islam, and trade developments in Europe and the Middle East.

Great Migration Period

Migration of Germanic tribes

Empire

Large group of territories

Franks

Most powerful Germanic tribe

Lord

Medieval ruler

Vassal

Noble serving a lord

Warrior culture

Culture based on fighting

Clovis

First Frankish king

Baptism

Christian initiation ritual

Charlemagne

King of the Franks

Feudal system

System based on lords and vassals

Fief

Land lent to vassal

Pledge fealty

Swear loyalty

Knights

Mounted warrior vassals

Castles

Fortified noble residence

Manor system

Lords protected peasants for labour

Manor

Lord's farming estate

Serfs

Farmers bound to land

Corvée labour

Unpaid labour for lord

Self-sufficient

Producing everything needed

Hermits

People living in isolation

Church Fathers

Early Christian scholars

Monks

Men living in monasteries

Nuns

Women living in monasteries

Monasteries

Buildings for monks

To convert

Adopt a new religion

Missionary

Person spreading religion

Willibrord

Missionary in Northwestern Europe

Pagans

People believing multiple gods

Relics

Remains of saints

Bedouins

Nomadic Arab tribes

Muhammad

Founder of Islam

Revelations

Messages from God

Quran

Holy book of Islam

Prophet

Messenger of God

Islam

Religion founded by Muhammad

Muslims

Followers of Islam

Hijrah

Migration from Mecca to Medina

Three-field system

Crop rotation using three fields

Piece of land

Area used for farming

Hard currency

Gold or silver coins

Market town

Town with regular markets

Guild

Association of craftsmen or merchants

City rights

Rights to govern a city

Privileges

Special rights from ruler

Hanseatic League

Alliance of trading cities

Trading cities

Cities focused on trade

Barges

Flat-bottomed cargo boats

Schepen

City magistrate

Stadholder

Representative of the count

Split up

Divide into separate parts

Secular

Not related to religion

Diocese

Area ruled by bishop

Sultan

Muslim ruler

Holy Land

Region sacred to Christians

Great Schism

Split of Christian Church

Orthodox Church

Eastern Christian Church

Crusade

Military expedition for Christianity

Crusader States

Christian states in Middle East

Sultanate of Rum

Turkish state in Anatolia

Turkic state

State ruled by Turks

Siege

Military blockade of city

Pillaging

Stealing and destroying property

Khan

Title of Mongol ruler