Unit 6

Question 1

serf

Answer 1

serf: A laborer in medieval Europe who was bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord, providing labor services in exchange for protection and the right to work on their leased fields.

Question 2

fiefdom

Answer 2

fiefdom: A piece of land held under the feudal system where a vassal is granted possession by a lord in exchange for military service and loyalty.

Question 3

tithe

Answer 3

tithe: A religious offering or tax, typically one-tenth of a person’s income or produce, given to support the church and clergy.

Question 4

vassal

Answer 4

vassal: A person who received protection and land from a lord in exchange for allegiance, military service, and various forms of payment in the feudal system

Question 5

villein

Answer 5

villein: A class of serf in the feudal system who was tied to the lord’s land and obligated to perform various forms of agricultural labor, but who had more rights and privileges than a regular serf.

Question 6

three field rotation

Answer 6

three-field rotation: An agricultural system where the land is divided into three parts: one planted with autumn crops, one with spring crops, and one left fallow, to increase productivity and soil fertility.

Question 7

Miles christi

Answer 7

Miles Christi: Latin for “Soldier of Christ,” referring to Christian knights who participated in the Crusades, fighting to defend or expand Christendom.

Question 8

cru

Answer 8

Crusade: A series of religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church in the medieval period, primarily aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem and other holy lands from Muslim control.

Question 9

regular clergy

Answer 9

regular clergy: Members of the Christian clergy who follow a monastic rule (regula), such as monks and nuns, as opposed to secular clergy who serve in parishes and dioceses.

Question 10

aquis granum

Answer 10

Aquisgranum known historically as the favored residence and capital of Charlemagne, where he built a palace and the Palatine Chapel, later becoming the site of coronation for many Holy Roman Emperors.

Question 11

verdun

Answer 11

Treaty of Verdun: An agreement signed in 843 CE by the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, which divided the Carolingian Empire into three kingdoms, laying the foundation for the modern states of France and Germany.

Question 12

marchies

Answer 12

marchies: Border territories or frontier districts in medieval Europe, governed by military leaders called margraves, tasked with defending against invasions and maintaining order in these often turbulent regions.

Question 13

Gutenberg

Answer 13

Johannes Gutenberg: A German inventor and printer who introduced movable type printing to Europe in the 15th century, revolutionizing the production of books and contributing to the spread of knowledge and literacy.