MAIN TERMS

Question 1

Abbot / Abbess

Answer 1

The superior or head of a monastery or convent, respectively.

Question 2

“Anglo-Saxon”

Answer 2

Refers to the historical period and people of Germanic origin who inhabited England from the 5th century to the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Question 3

Anno Domini (A.D.)

Answer 3

A Latin term meaning “in the year of the Lord,” used to designate years in the Gregorian calendar following the birth of Jesus Christ.

Question 4

Arianism. Cen?

Answer 4

a priest from Alexandria in the 4th century CE. Arianism rejected the doctrine of the Trinity and denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ.

Question 5

Asceticism

Answer 5

The practice of rigorous self-discipline and abstinence, often for religious or spiritual purposes.

Question 6

Ban / Bannus

Answer 6

A medieval legal proclamation or banishment against an individual, often used as a form of punishment.

Question 7

Bishop

Answer 7

A high-ranking clergy member within certain Christian denominations who is typically responsible for overseeing a specific region or diocese.

Question 8

Carolingian Dynasty

Answer 8

A Frankish dynasty that ruled over the Carolingian Empire, encompassing much of Western Europe, during the 8th and 9th centuries.

Question 9

Carolingian Minuscule

Answer 9

A script developed during the Carolingian Renaissance characterized by clear, legible handwriting and standardized letterforms.

Question 10

Castellan

Answer 10

A person in charge of a castle or fortress, responsible for its maintenance and defense.

Question 11

Cenobitic Monk

Answer 11

A type of monk who lives in a community or monastery and follows a communal way of life.

Question 12

Christianity

Answer 12

A monotheistic religion centered around the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament of the Bible.

Question 13

Civilitas

Answer 13

A Latin term referring to the organized and structured society in the Roman Empire.

Question 14

Donjon

Answer 14

The central tower or stronghold within a medieval castle.

Question 15

Ethnogenesis

Answer 15

The process by which a distinct ethnic group or culture forms and develops.

Question 16

Feudalism

Answer 16

A social and economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, characterized by a hierarchy of landholding and the granting of fiefs in exchange for service and loyalty.

Question 17

Five Pillars of Islam

Answer 17

The core religious obligations of Islam: Shahada (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Question 18

Foederati

Answer 18

Barbarian groups or tribes who formed alliances with the Roman Empire and provided military service in exchange for benefits.

Question 19

Furta Sacra

Answer 19

Latin for “holy theft,” referring to the practice of stealing and relocating relics in the Middle Ages to attract pilgrims and enhance the prestige of a religious site.

Question 20

Heptarchy

Answer 20

Refers to the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England during the early medieval period.

Question 21

Hermit

Answer 21

A person who lives in seclusion, typically for religious or spiritual reasons.

Question 22

Iconoclasm / Iconoclastic Controversy

Answer 22

The dispute in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries over the use of religious icons and their destruction.

Question 23

Islam

Answer 23

A monotheistic religion founded in the 7th century CE by the Prophet Muhammad, based on the teachings of the Quran.

Question 24

Knight (milites)

Answer 24

A warrior or nobleman who fought on horseback and served a lord in the feudal system.

Question 25

Limes

Answer 25

The Latin term for the fortified boundary lines or frontiers of the Roman Empire.

Question 26

Martyr

Answer 26

A person who willingly suffers persecution, including death, for their religious or moral beliefs.

Question 27

Missi Dominici

Answer 27

Officials appointed by Charlemagne to act as his envoys and administrators in the Carolingian Empire.

Question 28

Monastery

Answer 28

A religious community or building where monks or nuns live, worship, and dedicate themselves to spiritual practices.

Question 29

Nicene Creed

Answer 29

A statement of Christian faith formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ and his equality with God the Father. 4th cen

Question 30

Pilgrimage

Answer 30

A journey to a sacred place or shrine undertaken for religious or spiritual reasons.

Question 31

Provincialization

Answer 31

The process of establishing provinces or regions within an empire for administrative purposes.

Question 32

Relic / Reliquary

Answer 32

A physical object or remains associated with a holy person or event, often kept and venerated for religious purposes. A reliquary is a container or shrine used to store relics.

Question 33

Romanitas

Answer 33

A Latin term referring to the cultural and social ideals of the Roman Empire.

Question 34

Serf / Serfdom

Answer 34

A person in a feudal society who is bound to the land and obligated to provide labor and services to a lord in exchange for protection and sustenance.

Question 35

Ruralization

Answer 35

The process of transforming or shifting from urban to rural life or characteristics.

Question 36

Saint

Answer 36

A person who has been recognized and canonized by a religious authority as having exceptional holiness and is venerated as a role model in their faith.

Question 37

Stem Duchy

Answer 37

A territorial division or region ruled by a duke in the medieval Germanic states.

Question 38

Tetrarchy

Answer 38

A system of government in ancient Rome established by Emperor Diocletian, involving the division of power between four individuals. Two head emperors and two junior emperors. These four Emperors spit the empire into four districts and each ruled separately. 3rd cen

Question 39

The Three Orders

Answer 39

The hierarchical division of medieval society into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.

Question 40

Vassal

Answer 40

A person who enters into a feudal relationship with a lord, providing military service and loyalty in exchange for land or other benefits.