Medieval Europe Flashcards
Franks
German invaders - Militarily powerful; Important because create largest and most stable empire since fall of Rome
Church in Dark Ages
Only organized institution - Provide comfort
Capital of the Franks
Aechen (Charlemagne’s reign)
Clovis
1st King of the Franks; Unification of various Frankish tribes under 1 ruler; Baptized and covert to Christianity - Gain support from Catholic Church; Forced soldiers to convert
Where is the Catholic Church located?
Rome
732 Battle of Tours / Battle of Poitiers
Battle between Franks vs Moors/Muslims (Islam); Stopped northward expansion of Islamic rule into Western Europe; Martel built his own professional army and fought the Moors who were advancing into Europe and a threat to Christian kingdoms; Franks won;
Charles Martel
Martel = Hammer; Advisor to King; Defender of Christianity; Gains taxes / land from Christians to support his army and fight moors
Moors
Spanish Muslims
Charlemagne / Charles the Great
One of the King of the Franks; Creates circumstances for cultural rebirth; Introduce education system; 1st time forcing non-Christians to become Christian; Emperor of the Romans; Carolingian Renaissance
Christmas Day 800
Day Charlemagne was crowned “Emperor of the Romans” by Pope - Saves Pope from German invaders
Carolingian Renaissance
Reign of Charlemagne; Books; Monasteries
Carolingian Minister
Lowercase Letters invented by Charlemagne
Rhine River
Contains half of French, half of Germany - In both countries
Primogeniture
Eldest son of the family gets all the land
Feudal System
Decentralized political system; Vassals; Loyalty to lord; Political and military system that provide clarity
Vassals
People with lower authorities; Lowest vassal is still a noble, knight, and get paid
King
Doesn’t do much but is able to make things through different relationships
Queen
Who they marry can create powerful alliances to improve their relationship; Make great vassals; Have political relationships
Bishop
Church and King’s legitimacy; Settle influences
Knights
Attack enemies from behind
Rook
Fortress / Manor
Pawns
Most numerous; Individually useless; Social mobility is rare to try to move up
Fief
Land the lord give to a vassal in the Feudal System - Similar to currency; Real estate; Use land as wealth
Manorialism
Economic system of the middle ages; Lord owns a manor - serfdom, freeman, etc.
What is the goal of each manor?
Self-sufficiency through agriculture and farming -> Surplus -> Revitalization of towns -> No distance trade
Social mobility in Manorialism
No social mobility but get enough land to survive means land security, safety for kids -> Trade opportunity for security;
Serfs
Most peasants - A lord owns the right to their labor
Freemans (Other kind of peasants)
Have some special demand who can leave freely (Blacksmith, tailors, millers, bakers, etc.)
3 field crop rotation
1 Land has wheat; 1 Land has rye; 1 Land is fallow
Transhumance
Similar to Carruca; Moving livestock from one place to the other
Moldboard Plow / Carruca
Replaces horses’ ankles - Same plow in farming today; More soil
Manor
Rural town; Self-sufficient community with surrounding farmland