1.6 Developments in Europe

Feudalism

A political and social system in medieval Europe where land was exchanged for loyalty and service.

Vassal

A person who owed service to a lord in the feudal system.

Manorial System

An economic system in the Middle Ages where large estates were self-sufficient and provided defense.

Serf

A peasant who was tied to the land and could not leave without permission from their lord.

Three-Field System

An agricultural system where crops were rotated through three fields to improve soil fertility.

Code of Chivalry

An unwritten code of conduct in feudal society emphasizing honor, and protection of women.

Estates-General

A body in France composed of representatives from the clergy, nobility, and commoners.

Great Schism

The split of the Christian Church in 1054 into the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.

Crusades

Military campaigns initiated by Christians to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

Bourgeoisie

The middle class that emerged in late medieval Europe, including shopkeepers, merchants, and small landholders.

Antisemitism

Prejudice against Jews that was prevalent in medieval Europe.

Humanism

A Renaissance intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements rather than divine matters.

Magna Carta

A charter signed in 1215 that limited the power of the English monarchy and guaranteed certain rights.

Lay Investiture Controversy

A dispute over whether secular leaders or the pope had the authority to appoint bishops.

Black Death

A devastating plague that swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing a large portion of the population.

Renaissance

A period of renewed interest in art, literature, and the classical culture of Greece and Rome, beginning in the 14th century.