DarK Ages and Middle Ages Study Guide

1. Medieval Scripts (The "Slide" Section)

To identify these, look for these specific visual "tells":

  • Carolingian Minuscule: Look for very clear, rounded, lowercase letters. It was designed to be easy to read across the Holy Roman Empire.

  • Runes: Sharp, angular lines (designed for carving into stone or wood).

  • Cyrillic: Used in Russia/Eastern Europe; looks like a mix of Greek and some Latin-style letters.

  • Latin: Standard alphabet used in Western Europe (the base of English).

  • Arabic: Flowing, cursive-style script written from right to left.

  • Greek: Distinctive letters like $\Delta$ (delta), $\Sigma$ (sigma), or $\Omega$ (omega).

2. Feudalism & Social Hierarchy

Medieval society was built on a series of exchanges (loyalty for land).

  • The Monarch & Divine Right: The King ruled because he claimed God gave him the right (Divine Right).

  • The Land (Fief/Demesne): The land a king granted to a lord in exchange for taxes and military service.

  • The Serfs: The lowest class. They were not free to leave the land. They paid taxes, a tithe (10% to the church), and performed corvée (unpaid labor for the lord).

  • Artisans & Guilds: People who made things (jewelers, blacksmiths) joined Guilds to set prices and quality standards.

  • Inheritance: Under Primogeniture, the oldest son gets everything.

3. Law, Power, and Crimes

  • The Papacy: The office and authority of the Pope.

  • Regicide: The specific crime of killing a King.

  • Lèse-majesté: A crime against the dignity of a reigning sovereign (insulting the King).

  • Noblesse Oblige: The idea that nobility should act with generosity and nobility toward those below them.

4. Religion & War

  • The Crusades: Holy wars fought by Christians, primarily to retake the Holy Land.

  • Relics: Holy objects (bones of saints, pieces of the cross) that people traveled miles to see.

  • Pilgrimage: A religious journey to a sacred place or relic.

  • Knights: Professional, heavily armored horsemen who trained from childhood.

  • Longbow: A massive bow used by the English to pierce French armor at battles like Agincourt.

5. Key Figures & Dates

  • Charlemagne: The "Father of Europe" who founded the Holy Roman Empire in 800 AD.

  • William the Conqueror: The Duke of Normandy who invaded England in 1066 AD (The Battle of Hastings).

  • Joan of Arc: The French peasant girl who led armies against the English before being executed.

  • The Magyars: Migrated from Central Asia to settle what is now Hungary.

6. Major Kingdoms & Tribes

  • Barbarian Tribes: Includes the Vandals, Goths, Franks, and Huns (The "Bruhs" is a distractor/joke answer).

  • The Normans: Originally Vikings who settled in France, they eventually founded kingdoms in England, Sicily, and Antioch (but not Germany).

Study Tip: The "Corvée" vs. "Tithe" distinction

  • Corvée: Paying with work (labor).

  • Tithe: Paying with money/crops (specifically to the Church).