Hist 213 Exam 1 Vocab

King Alfred of Wessex

Forced the small kingdoms of medieval Europe to work together to defeat the Vikings; established order; royal law replaced local customs; laws were written

Feudalism

The main social system in England during medieval times, where power rests in the hands of property owners

Manorialism

A form of government in a village or town in which in exchange for protection, farmers and peasants would live in a Lord’s village and work.

Vassal

A person indebted to the people of a higher social class. The debt would usually be paid in loyalty or taxes.

Common Law

An expansion of King Alfred’s ideas. Established by Henry II. It ensured that laws all over England were the same and unified.

Black Death

The main strain of Plague that swept across Europe in the middle ages that killed over half of the population.

Hugh Capet

A king that was elected as King by aristocracy rather than inheriting the title. The first king of the Capetian dynasty.

Magna Carta

A document that the aristocracy forced King John to sign saying that no one, not even the king is above the law.

Henry II

King of England. He created Common Law. Married Eleanor of Aquitane to unite England and France.

King John

Henry II’s son. The most hated king of England. He did not obey Common Law and was forced to sign the Magna Carta.

William the Conqueror

An illegitimate son. He made an agreement with the king that he would be king, but another guy took his place. He then killed the new king of England to take the throne for himself.

Caffa

Where the Plague enters Europe. During a Mongol siege where plague-ridden bodies were catapulted into the city.

Bubonic Plague

Lymphatic; buboes; rapid increase in temperature within 2-3 days; headache; inflammation; death in 3-5 days; 18% survival rate

Pneumonic Plague

Respiratory; plague moves into respiratory system; coughing up blood; death within days or hours; less than 1% survival rate

Septicemic Plague

Infected blood; enters bloodstream; body tissue dies due to lack of circulation; patchy rashes and bumps; death within 24 hours; less than 1% survival rate

Bridgeheads

Points of plague entry into Europe

Mendicant orders

Catholic religious orders that have adopted a life of poverty, traveling, and living in urban areas for purposes of preaching, especially to the poor

Malthusian Dilemma

The population increased exponentially, but the resources couldn’t keep up and couldn’t feed everyone. Led to a famine.

Benefice Records

A variation of the feudal system. Kept a record of births, deaths, transfer of property, etc..

Decameron by Boccaccio

Described the horrors of the plague by different accounts. 10 stories by 10 people.

“City of God”

A book written by St. Augustine that gave ideals for the “New Christian World View”

Rule of St. Benedict

The “good” monasteries. Favored a life of discipline, stability, and obedience

Monasticism

A way of living away from the sins of society and having a vow of obedience for religious purposes

St. Augustine

The missionary that was sent to convert the English. He wrote the “City of God” and introduced the idea of predestination.

St. Martin of Tours

The missionary send to convert Gaul

Clovis

The first king of the Frankish kingdom, and the first ruler of the Merovigian Dynasty

Pippin III

The first leader of the Carolingian Dynasty of the Frankish Kingdom

Charlemagne

Also known as Charles the Great. He divided the Frankish kingdom into counties and appointed a count to rule each county. He also helped create the road system

Louis the Pious

The son of Charlemagne. He allowed the aristocracy to gain power because he was only focused on religion

Pope Leo IX

He was a very important member of the Great Scism of 1054, and he worked with Emperor Henry III

Pope Gregory VII

He excommunicated Henry IV because he was letting the tithes of each village go to the Feudal Lords rather than the Pope

Vikings

Invaded Europe by not following the rules of English War. This helped encourage the development of feudalism

Treaty of Verdun

Gave each of Louis the Pious’s sons a piece of land to rule, but if they did not comply or agree with the treaty, the aristocracy would take over all of the land

Crusades

A group of wars between Christians and Muslims over holy lands

Domesday Book

William the Conqueror took data of all land, tools, people, etc. in England and compiled it into this book so he would be able to properly tax people

Emperor Henry IV

Excommunicated by Pope Gregory VII for letting tithes go back to the Feudal Lords rather than the Pope

St. Patrick

The missionary sent to Ireland. He gets rid of “all the snakes”

Byzantine Empire

The East Orthodox religion of the Roman Empire.

Germanic People

The West Christian religions. Often called barbarians because they were not Roman.

Abit

The head of the monastery

Frankish Kingdom

The longest lasting Germanic kingdom.

Tributaries

People that had to pay taxes to the Franks so they could keep their land.

Pious

Another word for Religious

King, Lords, Knights, Peasants

Social System of Feudalism

Monastic Revival

Religious communities began to seek protection from lords. Manors had their own churches. Religious houses became personal property

Land Investiture Scandal

Tithes go to the king v. Tithes go to feudal lords of the land the church is on

Medieval Warm

Plenty of food draws more people. Warmer weather results in a longer harvest season

Little Ice Age

Becomes colder. Colder weather results in a shorter harvest season. Leads to a famine.

Virgin Soil Epidemic

A disease starts in one population and expands to many others because the areas have never experienced the disease

Antiqua

Strain of Plague in the 6th century

Medievalis

The Black Death. The strain of the Plague in the middle ages

Orientalis

The strain of Plague in the 20th century

Justinian’s Plague

Antiqua version of the plague. Byzantine Empire. Collapses the Roman Empire

Avignon, France

Where the Pope moved to after leaving Rome. Everyone wanted to go there to get God’s favor during the Plague.

Franciscans and Dominicans

Monks of the Mendicant Orders. They traveled from town to town and checked in at Mother Houses

Messina, Genoa, Pisa, Venice

Bridgeheads of Italy

Mallorca

Island in the Mediterranean. One of the first sites of Plague arrival. Moves from Mallorca to France

Guild System

Primarily in Florence. Like a labor Union. Influenced wages, laws, religion, and charitable activities, such as providing dowrys.

Caffa, Constantinople, Venice, Mallorca, Messina, Pisa, Genoa, Marseille

Bridgeheads of Europe

Medici Family

Controlled the Banking industry in Florence