Middle Ages Vocab Flashcards
Medieval
Term that describes the period of western European history known as the Middle Ages.
Middle Ages
Period of western European history between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance.
Feudalism
Political system of local government based on the granting of land in return for loyalty, military assistance, and other services.
Fief
Grant of land given to a vassal from a lord.
Vassal
Person granted land from a lord in return for services.
Manorialism
Economic system during the Middle Ages that revolved around self-sufficient farming estates were lords and peasants shared the land.
Serfs
Peasants who were bound to the land where they worked for a lord.
Chivalry
Code of conduct that dictated knights’ behavior towards others.
Abbot
Head of a monastery who controlled and distributed all property.
Heretics
People who denied the truth of the official church’s principles of who preached beliefs not approved by the church.
Tithe
Church tax collected from Christians in early times that represented one tenth of their income; later became a gift to the church representing one tenth of a person’s income.
Common Law
Law based upon customs and judges’ decisions rather than upon written codes.
Magna Carta
Great Charter, English document that made law the supreme power and became a cornerstone of constitutional government.
Crusades
A long series of wars between Christians and Muslims in Southwest Asia.
Pilgrimage
A journey to a sacred place.
Holy Land
The region of present-day Israel; includes the city of Jerusalem, which is a holy city to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
King
Person in charge of a kingdom; highest rank in a feudalism.
Noble/Lord
In a feudal society , one who owned land given to him by the king in return for his loyalty.
Knight/Vassal
Granted use of land by lords, and in exchange to protect the land.
