Middle Ages Flashcards
Why is the Middle Ages called the Middle Ages?
time period between the fall of the western Roman Empire and the Renaissance
What system developed during the Middle Ages?
Feudalism
What is feudalism?
decentralized political system where land is exchanged for service (ie. work, fighting)
Where did people live during the Middle Ages? What was this economic system called?
on Manors
Manorialism
What was manorialism?
The medieval manors were owned by the Lords, everyone lived on the manor and it was self-sufficient. Each manor had a church, barns, fields for farming, lord’s house, serfs homes, blacksmith, etc.
How did you know what social class you were in?
born into your social class
How was the medieval social structure similar to the traditional Hindu caste system?
born into social class, NO SOCIAL MOBILITY
In medieval society land equalled…..
POWER
What was the code of chivalry?
code of conduct that knights followed, they were expected to be brave, loyal, respected women
What was the most powerful institution during the Middle Ages?
the Roman Catholic Church
What kind of secular powers did the Church have?
Arrest people, torture people, collected taxes (tithe), controlled days of warfare
What were the Crusades?
a series of holy wars where Christians tried to capture the holy land (Jerusalem) from the Muslims
Who called for the Crusades?
Pope Urban II
What were some causes of the Crusades? Why did people join?
for religion, profit, land, wealth, forgiven of their sins, ticket to heaven
Were the Christian crusaders successful?
No, they did not capture the holy land for good from the Muslims
What were some positive effects of the Crusades?
Cultural diffusion between Europe and the Middle East, decline in feudalism, spirit of exploration, Church lost some power
What was the bubonic plague?
a disease that spread from Asia to Europe via trade
What were the effects of the bubonic plague?
30% of Europe’s population was killed, breakdown in society, decline of feudalism, inflation, monarchs gained power
What time period came after the Middle Ages in Europe?
Renaissance
“All things were under its domain . . . its power was
such that no one could hope to escape its scrutiny.”-Who is “its” in this quote?
Roman Catholic Church
