Middle Ages Vocabulary Flashcards
Term that describes the period of western European history known as the Middle Ages
Medieval
Period of western European history between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance
Middle Ages
Political system of local government based on the granting of land in return for loyalty, military assistance, and other services
Feudalism
Grant of land given to a vassal from a lord
Fief
Person granted land from a lord in return for services
Vassal
Economic system during the Middle Ages that revolved around self-sufficient farming estates were lords and peasants shared the land
Manorialism
Peasants who were bound to the land where they worked for a lord
Serfs
Code of conduct that dictated knights’ behavior towards others
Chivalry
Head of a monastery who controlled and distributed all property
Abbot
People who denied the truth of the official church’s principles of who preached beliefs not approved by the church
Heretics
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
Tithe
Law based upon customs and judges’ decisions rather than upon written codes
Common Law
Great Charter, English document that made law the supreme power and became a cornerstone of constitutional government
Magna Carta
A long series of wars between Christians and Muslims in Southwest Asia
Crusades
A journey to a sacred place
Pilgrimage
