Middle Ages Flashcards
Arabic word for “God”
Allah
Monk who was in charge all other monks at the monastery
Abbot
Charlemagne’s habit of sometimes forcing conquered people to either become Christian or die
Baptism by the Sword
Battle at which Harold of Godwin was defeated by William the Conqueror, in 1066 in England. William became king of England
Battle of Hastings
Battle at which Charles Martel defeated the Muslims and halted their entry into Western Europe
Battle of Tours
Italian monk who developed a code of conduct for monks to follow, called Benedictine Rule
Benedict
Dynasty that began when Pepin became king of the Franks
Carolingians
Frankish king who built up a huge empire, spread Christianity and literacy, brought order to Europe, and was crowned emperor by pope in AD 800
Charlemagne
Strong Frankish chieftain who ruled the tribe in the 400’s; he was the first Frankish leader to become a Christian, after winning an important battle
Clovis
Form of government used in Europe in Middle Ages, based on ownership of land and personal loyalty to one’s lord
Feudalism
Plot of land granted to a vassal by a lord
Fief
Five main tenets of the Islamic religion, they are faith, prayer, alms, fasting and pilgrimage
Five Pillars of Islam
English king defeated by William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Harold Godwinson
Medieval organization of people who all did the same craft or trade;
Guild
French peasant girl who believed God was telling her to save France from the English in the Hundred Years’ War; she led French to a series of victories, then was captured and burned at the stake by the English.
Joan of Arc
Land a lord owned that was directly controlled by him, rather than being parceled out to other vassals
Manor
Frankish general and mayor of the palace who did all the work of the king without the title; also defeated Muslims at the Battle of Tours
Charles Martel
The holiest city in Islam, the birthplace of Muhammad
Mecca
Frankish dynasty set up by Clovis
Merovingian
Royal agents that Charlemagne sent around to check up on his nobles and make sure no plots existed to overthrow him
Missi
People lived together, and their main task was to pray and follow God’s laws
Monasticism
Area of northern France handed over to the Vikings as a fief in order to prevent further attacks
Normandy
Son of Charles Martel, he overthrew the Frankish king and was crowned king of the Franks by the pope. His son was Charlemagne
Pepin the Short
The holy book of Islam
Qu’ran
Peasant during the Middle Ages
Serf
Pope who called for the First Crusade, in 1096
Urban II
Person who received a fief from a lord and in return owed loyalty and military service to the lord
Vassal
People from Scandinavia who raided and settled in Western Europe between 800 and 1000
Vikings
Of Viking descent, he was the Duke of Normandy who claimed and won the English throne in 1066. First very strong king in English history
William the Conqueror
Body of officials who perform religious services, such as priest, ministers, or rabbis
Clergy
Code of behavior for Knights in medieval Europe, stressing ideals such as courage, loyalty, and devotion
Chivalry
Unified body of law formed from ruling of England’s royal judges that served as the basis for law in many English speaking countries today
Common Law
One of the expedition in which medieval Christian warriors sought to recover control of the holy land from the Muslim
Crusade
Deadly disease that spread across Asia and Europe in the mid-14th century, killing millions of people
Bubonic Plague
Medieval town dweller
Burgher
An assembly of representatives from all three of the estates, or social classes in France
Estates-General
Taking away of person’s right of membership in a Christian church
Excommunication
Cathedral of holy wisdom in Constantinople, built by the order of Byzantine emperor Justinian
Hagia Shophia
Body of Roman civil law collected and organized by order of the Byzantine emperor Justinian
Justinian Code
A document guaranteeing basic political rights in England, drawn up by the nobles and approved by King John in 1215
Magna Carta
Body of representatives that make laws for a nation
Parliament
Everyday language of people in a region or country
Vernacular
Person whose ideas are incorrect in the opinion of the church
Heretic
Record of survey of the land of England made by order of William the Conqueror about 1086, giving ownership, extent, value, etc., of the properties
Domesday Book
Organization of rural economy and society on self-sufficient manors
Manorialism
