Chapter 10 Vocabulary (Long Definitions) Flashcards
Schism
A formal split within a religious community.
Manor
In medieval Europe, a large, self-sufficient landholding consisting of the lord’s residence (manor house, outbuildings, peasant village, and surrounding land.
Serf
In medieval Europe, an agricultural laborer legally bound to a lord’s property and obligated to perform set services for the lord.
Fief
In medieval Europe, land granted in return for a sworn oath to provide specified military service
Vassal
In medieval Europe, a sworn supporter of a king or lord committed to rendering specified military service to that king or lord.
Papacy
The central administration of the Roman Catholic Church, of which the pope is the head.
Holy Roman Empire
Loose confederation of mostly German states and principalities, headed by an emperor elected by the princes. It lasted form 962 to 1806.
Investiture Controversy
Dispute between the popes and the Holy Roman Emperors over who held ultimate authority over bishops in imperial lands.
Monasticism
Living in a religious community apart from secular society and adhering to a rule stipulating chastity, obedience, and poverty. It was a prominent element of medieval Christianity and Buddhism. Monasteries were the primary centers of learning and literacy in medieval Europe.
Horse collar
Harnessing method that increased the efficiency of horses by shifting the point of traction from the animal’s neck to the shoulders; its adoption favors the spread of horse-drawn plows and vehicles.
Crusades (1095-1204)
Armed pilgrimages to the Holy Land by Christians determined to recover Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The Crusades brought an end to western Europe’s centuries of intellectual and cultural isolation.
Pilgrimage
Journey to a sacred shrine by Christians seeking to show their piety, fulfill vows, or gain absolution from sins. Other religions also have pilgrimage traditions, such as the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and the pilgrimages made by early Chinese Buddhists to India in search of sacred Buddhist writings.