history Flashcards
What is the time period known as the Medieval era?
From around 500 CE (fall of the Roman Empire) to 1500 CE (beginning of the Renaissance).
What does “Medieval” mean?
It comes from the Latin Medium Aevum, meaning “Middle Ages.”
What is feudalism?
A social system where people were given land and protection in exchange for service and labor.
Who was at the top of the feudal pyramid?
The King.
What were the roles of nobles in feudal society?
Nobles managed land, provided military service, and held political power.
What were peasants expected to do?
Work the land, provide goods, and fulfill feudal obligations.
What were the Crusades?
A series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims for control of the Holy Land from 1096–1270.
What were some effects of the Crusades?
Increased trade, exposure to Muslim knowledge, and changes in warfare and culture.
What is Gothic architecture known for?
Tall cathedrals, flying buttresses, stained glass, and pointed arches.
What were gargoyles used for?
To scare off evil spirits and direct rainwater away from buildings.
What was ‘trial by ordeal’?
A medieval justice method where God was believed to reveal guilt or innocence through physical trials.
What was the punishment for treason?
Death by public execution, often being hanged, drawn, and quartered.
When did the Black Death reach Europe?
October 1347.
What was a common belief about the cause of disease during the Black Death?
That it was caused by witches or imbalance of the Four Humours.
How did the Crusades affect education and science in Europe?
Muslim scholars introduced Europeans to advanced science, medicine, and the number system including ‘0’.
What document limited the power of the king and established basic legal rights?
The Magna Carta.
