10 Voacb Ver. 2 Flashcards
Who is St. Benedict of Nursia?
Founder of monasticism in the western half of the Roman Empire; established Benedictine Rule in the 6th century
Parallel development of Basil’s rules in the Byzantine Empire.
What is Scholasticism?
Dominant medieval philosophical approach based on use of logic to resolve theological problems
So called because of its base in the schools or universities.
Who were the Serfs?
Peasant agriculture laborers within the manorial system of the Middle Ages.
Who was Thomas Aquinas?
Creator of one of the great syntheses of medieval learning; taught at University of Paris; author of several Summas
Believed that through reason it was possible to know much about natural order, moral law, and nature of God.
What is the Three-field system?
System of agricultural cultivation by the 9th century in western Europe; included one-third in spring grains, one-third fallow.
Who are Vassals?
Members of the military elite who received land or a benefice from a feudal lord in return for military service and loyalty.
What were the Vikings known for?
Seagoing Scandinavian raiders from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway who disrupted coastal areas of western Europe from the 8th to the 11th centuries.
Who called the first crusade?
Urban II in 1095
He appealed to Christians to mount a military assault to free the Holy Land from the Muslims.
Who were the Holy Roman Emperors?
Emperors in northern Italy and Germany following the split of Charlemagne’s empire
They claimed the title of emperor around the 10th century and failed to develop a centralized monarchy in Germany.
What was the Hundreds Year War?
Conflict between England and France from 1336 to 1453
It was fought over lands England possessed in France and feudal rights versus the emerging claims of national states.
What is Investiture?
Practice of state appointment of bishops
Pope Gregory VII attempted to ban the practice of lay investiture, leading to war with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.
What is the Magna Carta?
Great charter issued by King John of England in 1215
It confirmed feudal rights against monarchical claims and represented the principle of mutual limits and obligations between rulers and feudal aristocracy.
Define Manorialism.
System describing economic and political relations between landlords and their peasant laborers during the Middle Ages
It involved a hierarchy of reciprocal obligations that exchanged labor or rents for access to land.
What are the Middle Ages?
Period in western European history from the decline and fall of the Roman Empire until the 15th century.
What is a Moldboard?
Heavy plow introduced in northern Europe during the Middle Ages
It permitted deeper cultivation of heavier soils and was a technological innovation of the medieval agricultural system.
Who was Peter Abelard?
Author of Yes and No; university scholar who applied logic to problems of theology
He demonstrated logical contradictions within established doctrine.
Who is St. Benedict of Nursia?
Founder of monasticism in the western half of the Roman Empire
He established the Benedictine Rule in the 6th century, parallel to the development of Basil’s rules in the Byzantine Empire.
Who was Bernard of Clairvaux?
Emphasized role of faith in preference to logic; stressed importance of mystical union with God; successfully challenged Abelard and had him driven from the universities.
Important figure in medieval theology and monastic reform.
What was the Black Death?
Plague that struck Europe in 14 century; significantly reduced Europe’s population; affected social structure.
Led to major social and economic changes in Europe.
What are the Canterbury Tales?
A collection of 24 narrative poems written in Middle English between 1387 and 1400.
Written by Geoffrey Chaucer, they provide insight into medieval society.
What were the Carolingians?
Royal house of Franks after 8 century until their replacement in 10 century.
Significant in the unification of much of Western Europe.
Who was Charlemagne?
Charles the Great; Carolingian monarch who established substantial empire in France and Germany.
Crowned Emperor of the Romans in 800 AD.
Who was Charles Martel?
Carolingian monarch of Franks; responsible for defeating Muslims in battle of tours in 732; ended Muslim threat to western Europe.
His victory is often seen as pivotal in European history.
Who was Clovis?
Early Frankish king; converted Franks to Christianity; allowed establishment of Frankish kingdom.
His conversion marked the beginning of the Christianization of the Franks.
What is feudalism?
A system of government and social organization in medieval Europe.
Characterized by the exchange of land for military service.
What is Gothic architecture?
An architectural style developed during the Middle Ages in western Europe; featured pointed arches and flying buttresses as external supports on main walls.
Notable examples include cathedrals such as Notre-Dame.
Who was Gregory VII?
Pope during the 11 century who attempted to free church from interference of feudal lords; quarreled with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV over practice of lay investiture.
His papacy marked a significant power struggle between church and state.
What are guilds?
Sworn associations of people in the same business or craft in a single city; stressed security and mutual control; limited membership, regulated apprenticeship, guaranteed good workmanship; often established franchise within cities.
Played a crucial role in the economic life of medieval towns.
What was the Hanseatic League?
An organization of cities in northern Germany and southern Scandinavia for the purpose of establishing a commercial alliance.
It facilitated trade and economic cooperation among its member cities.
