Middle Ages Vocabulary 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 where lords and peasants shared the land
Serfs
Peasants who were bound to the land where they worked for the 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
