Middle Ages Flashcards
Feudal system
How land was owned and organised in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages / medieval period
From about 500 AD- 1500AD
Demesne
The kings land
Vassals
The kings followers were called vassals
Knight
Knight were soldiers who rode into battles on horseback
Serf
A person who belonged to the.lord and farmed his land
Freeman
A man who paid rent ant TAX to The Lord but could travel as he pleased
Manor
The land and everything on it owned by The Lord
Tithe
Taxes paid to the church
Commons
All the peasants animals grazed in the commons
Open field system
All their fields were divided into two parts. 1) would be for farming and growing crops and 2) would be for their animals
Fallow
This meant one year it would have crops growing on it and the year would be left to fallow which meant it would be left to rest and would be fertile again for the next year
Crop rotation
A method of growing crops used by medieval people
Pottage
A food eaten by medieval people. It was made of vegetables soup with porridge
Bailiff
The men that The Lord put in charge of law and order
Sanctuary
If a person was being chases by the bailiff, when they ran into a church they could not be arrested. This was called sanctuary
Motte
A man made small hill
Bailey
An enclosure below the motte were The Lord and his soldiers lived
Keep
A large square tower in a stone castle. The king and his family lived there
Battlements
The walkway on the top of the keep
Curtain walls
The outer wall of the castle
Turrets
Strong walls on the outside of the castle
Drawbridge
A bridge that went into the castle that could go up and down
Portcullis
An iron grille that could be lowered in front of the castle gate
Moat
A ditch around the castle
Ramparts
Ran along the top of the castle walls. The were small gaps wide enough for soldiers to shoot through them
Latrines
The toilets of the castle
Trenches
Big slices of bread served on wooden plates
Wimple
Long headdresses that women wore
Hawking
Hunting with trained birds of pray
Jousting
A mock battle between knights on horses
Dowry
Money or goods that a women’s family gave to her bun and when they got married
Page
The first stage of becoming a knight. They learned how to ride a horse and use a sword
Squire
The second stage of becoming a knight. They learned how to fight on horseback
Dubbing
The ceremony at which boys became knight
Chivalry
A code of honour that night had to keep
Toll
A tax that traders had to pay at the towns gate
Curfew
The time when all fires had to be put out in the town
Leprosy
A skin disease
The Black Death
A disease. Caused by fleas on the black rat
Charter
A legal document granted by the king that allowed people to run their own town
Guild
An organisation that every crafts person had to belong to. Each guild controlled its own craft
Apprentice
The first stage of becoming a craftsman, when a boy turned seven. He did not get payed for his work
Journeyman
The second stage of becoming a craftsman, now he was payed for his work
Master craftsman
The final stage of beck in a craftsman. Before he could become a craft am she had to produce a masterpiece
Romanesque
A big dark gloomy stone church
Gothic
Stone churches with spires an arches
Flying buttresses
The arches outside the church that supported the roof
Dormitory
Where the monks slept
Refectory
Where the monks ate their meals
Cloister
Where the monks walked and prayed
Scriptorium
Where they copied manuscripts
Infirmary
Where the sick where nursed
Chapter house
Where the monks met to discuss business
Novice
When a boy joined a monastery he was called a novice
Tonsure
A certain haircut worn by monks
Matins
Morning prayers
Vespers
Day prayers
Compline
Night prayers
