BIG QUIZ Flashcards

Slavs and Early Russia:

• Western, Eastern, and Southern Slavs – Three main branches of Slavic peoples:

  • Western Slavs: Poles, Czechs, and Slovaks.

  • Eastern Slavs: Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians.

  • Southern Slavs: Serbs, Croats, and Bulgarians.

• Cyrillic Alphabet – A writing system created by Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius to translate religious texts for the Slavs.

• Cyril and Methodius – Byzantine brothers who spread Christianity and developed the Cyrillic alphabet for the Slavs.

• Varangians – Scandinavian Vikings who traveled into Eastern Europe, some becoming rulers in Kievan Rus’.

• Novgorod – A major trade city in Russia, founded by the Varangians, later an influential republic.

• Kiev – The capital of Kievan Rus’, a major center of trade and early Russian culture.

• Kievan Rus’ – The first major Slavic state, founded by Viking rulers, centered around Kiev.

• Rurik – A Varangian chieftain who founded the Rurik dynasty and ruled over Novgorod.

• Oleg – A successor of Rurik, moved the capital to Kiev and expanded Kievan Rus’.

• Vladimir – Grand Prince of Kiev who converted Kievan Rus’ to Christianity in 988.

• Olga – Regent of Kievan Rus’, first Slavic ruler to convert to Christianity.

• Primary Chronicle – A historical record of Kievan Rus’ written by monks.

• Andrei Rublev – A famous Russian icon painter from the 14th-15th century.

• Yaroslav the Wise – Ruler of Kievan Rus’ who promoted legal reform and cultural development.

• Cathedral of St. Sophia – A major church built in Kiev during Yaroslav’s reign.

• Vladimir Monomakh – Grand Prince of Kiev, known for military campaigns and his "Testament."

• Testament – A set of moral and political instructions left by Vladimir Monomakh.

• Boyars – Russian noble landowners who advised the prince.

• Liudi – Free common people in Kievan Rus’.

• Veches – Town assemblies in early Russian cities where citizens could voice opinions.

• Andrei Bogolubsky – Prince who shifted power from Kiev to Vladimir, weakening Kievan Rus’.

Vikings and Feudal Europe:

• Magyars – A nomadic people who settled in Hungary and invaded Western Europe.

• Battle of Lechfeld (955) – A major victory of Otto I over the Magyars, ending their invasions.

• Vikings – Scandinavian seafarers who raided and settled in Europe from the 8th to 11th centuries.

• Norsemen – Another term for Vikings, meaning "men from the North."

• Vassal – A person granted land (a fief) in exchange for loyalty and military service.

• Feudalism – A system where land was exchanged for service and loyalty between lords and vassals.

• Fief – A piece of land granted to a vassal by a lord in the feudal system.

• Subinfeudation – The practice of dividing fiefs into smaller sections, given to lesser vassals.

• Knights – Armored warriors who served as vassals under the feudal system.

• Manorialism – The economic system of the Middle Ages where peasants lived on and worked for a lord’s land.

• Demesne – The land on a manor that was directly controlled by the lord.

• Serfs – Peasants bound to the land, providing labor in exchange for protection.

Medieval England and France:

• Alfred of Wessex (Alfred the Great) – King of Wessex who defended England from Viking invasions.

• Normandy – A region in northern France given to the Viking leader Rollo, later a major feudal power.

• Carruca – A heavy plow that improved medieval farming.

• Aratum – A light plow used in Mediterranean regions.

• Three-field system – A crop rotation system that increased food production in medieval Europe.

• Fallow field – A field left unplanted to restore soil nutrients.

• Wattling and daub – A medieval construction method using woven wood and mud.

• Aristocracy – The noble class, including lords and knights.

• "Peace of God" – A church decree limiting violence against noncombatants.

• "Truce of God" – A decree prohibiting fighting on holy days.

• Eleanor of Aquitaine – A powerful medieval queen who was married to both the kings of France and England.

• Blanche of Castile – Queen and regent of France, mother of Louis IX.

• Chivalry – A medieval knightly code of honor and behavior.

• Tournaments – Mock battles where knights practiced combat skills.

• Melee and joust – Melee was a chaotic group battle; jousting was a one-on-one combat on horseback.

Medieval Trade and Cities:

• Venice – A powerful Italian trade city.

• Flanders – A key trade region in medieval Europe, known for wool production.

• Marco Polo – A Venetian traveler who explored China.

• Burghers/Bourgeois – Middle-class merchants and town dwellers.

• Communes – Self-governing cities in medieval Europe.

• Guilds – Trade organizations regulating craft production and commerce.

France and England:

• Hugh Capet – The first king of the Capetian dynasty in France.

• Capetian dynasty – The ruling dynasty of France from the late 10th century onward.

• Philip II of France – A king who expanded French territory and strengthened royal power.

• Louis IX – A devout French king known for justice and the Seventh Crusade.

• Philip IV the Fair – A king who clashed with the Pope and created the Estates-General.

• Parlement – The French royal court of justice.

• Estates-General – A representative assembly of France’s three social classes.

• First, Second, Third Estates – The three social classes in France (clergy, nobility, commoners).

England and the Norman Conquest:

• Alfred the Great – English king who defended against Vikings and promoted learning.

• Anglo-Saxon England – England before the Norman Conquest, ruled by Saxon kings.

• Shires and Sheriffs – Administrative divisions of England with local officials (sheriffs).

• King Canute – A Viking ruler who became King of England.

• Edward the Confessor – A pious English king, his death led to a succession crisis.

• William of Normandy – The Duke of Normandy who conquered England in 1066.

• Harold Godwinson – The last Anglo-Saxon king of England, defeated at Hastings.

• Harold Hardrada – Viking king of Norway who also claimed the English throne.

• Battle of Hastings (1066) – The battle where William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson.

• Domesday Book – A survey of England’s land and property for taxation.

• Oath of Salisbury Plain – William the Conqueror's vassals swore direct loyalty to him.

• Henry I – A son of William, strengthened royal power.

• Plantagenets – The ruling dynasty of England after the Normans.

• Henry II – English king who expanded royal law and feuded with the Church.

• Exchequer – The royal treasury of England.

• Common law – A unified legal system in England.

• King John – A weak king forced to sign the Magna Carta.

• Magna Carta (1215) – A document limiting royal power.

• Thomas Becket – Archbishop of Canterbury, murdered for opposing Henry II.

• Runnymede – The site where the Magna Carta was signed.

• Edward I – An English king who strengthened Parliament.

Holy Roman Empire and Spain:

• Otto I – King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, defeated the Magyars at the Battle of Lechfeld.

• Salian dynasty – A German ruling dynasty (1024-1125) that struggled with the papacy over investiture.

• The Reconquista – A centuries-long campaign by Christian states to reclaim Spain from Muslim rule.

• El Cid – A Castilian noble and military leader who fought both Christians and Muslims during the Reconquista.

• Reparimiento – The redistribution of land taken from Muslims to Christians in Spain.

• Mudejares – Muslims allowed to live under Christian rule in Spain.

• Fueros – Local laws granting privileges to Spanish towns during the Reconquista.

• Aragon – A powerful Christian kingdom in northeastern Spain, played a key role in the Reconquista.

• Castile – A dominant Spanish kingdom that led the Reconquista.

• Granada – The last Muslim stronghold in Spain, fell in 1492.

• King Alfonso X – Known as "Alfonso the Wise," he promoted cultural and legal reforms in Spain.

Later Medieval European Dynasties:

• King Henry III (of England) – Son of King John, weak ruler who faced rebellion from nobles.

• King Henry IV (of Germany) – Holy Roman Emperor who clashed with Pope Gregory VII over lay investiture.

• Hohenstaufens – A German ruling dynasty that controlled the Holy Roman Empire in the 12th-13th centuries.

• Frederick I Barbarossa – Holy Roman Emperor who sought to dominate Italy but was defeated by the Lombard League.

• Frederick II – Holy Roman Emperor known for his intellectual achievements and conflicts with the Papacy.

• Rudolf of Habsburg – Elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1273, marking the rise of the Habsburg dynasty.

• Teutonic Knights – A medieval German military order that played a key role in Christianizing Eastern Europe.