Unit III B

• Medieval Europe

(Middle Ages)

Battle of Tours:

Battle at Tours, France where Christian armies stopped Islam from advancing

into Christian Europe.

Moors:Name given to Muslims in Spain (Islam was

spreading into Europe from N. Africa

Charles Martel:Christian leader who defeated

Muslim armies at Battle of Tours

Charlemagne:Powerful Frankish ruler who built a large

Christian empire in central Europe

Feudalism:Political system in which nobles or lords are granted land from the king in exchange for

loyalty and military service

Manorialism:

Economic system of feudalism; Medieval lord’s estate {self-sufficient}

Feudal Class System:Rigid class system in Europe during feudalism

Lords:

Powerful landowners

Vassal:A person owing service to a feudal lords

Fief:

Land granted by a lord to a vassal

Knights:

Warriors who defended

their Lords lands

Chivalry:Behavior code of Medieval knights which stresses discipline, loyalty and respect

To fear God and maintain His ChurchTo serve the liege lord in valour and faithTo protect the weak and defencelessTo give succour to widows and orphansTo refrain from the wanton giving of offenceTo live by honour and for gloryTo despise pecuniary rewardTo fight for the welfare of allTo obey those placed in authorityTo guard the honour of fellow knightsTo eschew unfairness, meanness and deceitTo keep faithAt all times to speak the truthTo persevere to the end in any enterprise begunTo respect the honour of womenNever to refuse a challenge from an equalNever to turn the back upon a foe.

Serf:

Peasants bound to land of their feudal lords

Clergy:Church officials [Priests, monks,

nuns, bishops, etc..].

Tithe

Church tax.

Tynemouth Priory - Late medieval church and graveyard

GothicChurch style of architecture in medieval Europe (example: ribbed arches, stain glass windows,

flying buttress, pointed arches, tall spires).

Canon Law

Church laws and standards that guided Christians during the Middle ages

Interdiction

(Form of punishment) Church punishment, cutting off official church functions, services,

etc., in a particular area.

Lay Investiture:Appointment of religious officials

(clergy) by kings or nobles.

Usury:Appointment of religious officials

(clergy) by kings or nobles.

Simony:Practice of selling positions in the church

Inquisition:Roman Catholic church court in charge of

investigating & prosecuting charges of heresy- especially active in SPAIN during the 1400’s.

Anti-Semitism:

Prejudice against Jews.

Unit III B

• Crusades

(Middle Ages)

Crusades:European Christian military expeditions made between the 11th and 13th centuries to retake the Middle Eastern

Holy Lands occupied by the Muslims.

Holy Land:Term given to lands in present day Israel that is significant to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Seljuk TurksDynasty that controlled Turkey during the 11th and 12th centuries. The Seljuk disruption of European travel to the Holy Lands resulted in the Crusades.

Saladin:Muslim leader during the crusaders

who captured Jerusalem, allows unarmed Christians to worship in peace

in the holy land. This deal was struck with Richard the Lionhearted.

Commercial Revolution:Economic changes decreasing the role of feudalism and

Manorialism towards systems of capitalism, trade and commerce between the 1000 and 1300. Expansion of

business and trade as agriculture increased.

Gentry:Wealthy landowners

Guild:Association of artisans and tradesmen formed to protect mutual interests and

maintain standards during Medieval age

Hanseatic League:Band of German merchant traders working

cooperatively to protect their trade interests and eventually monopolized trade on the Baltic and

North Seas.

Vernacular:

Common, everyday language – not Latin.

Bubonic Plague/Black Death:Epidemic during the 13th and 14th centuries killing

millions in China and killing one-third of Europeans

Nation-state:An independent nation or country.

Common Law:[English Common Law] A unified body of law formed from rulings of England’s royal judges that serves as the basis for law in many English-speaking countries

today – like the USA.

Magna Carta(Great Charter) A document guaranteeing basic political rights in England, Power of

purse to Parliament. Drawn up by nobles and “approved” by King John (1215) **First time a

monarch’s power is reduced.

Parliament:

England’s governing body – the legislature.

Estates General:The governing body of France (legislature) PRE-

FRENCH REVOLUTION

Hundred Years’ War:Conflict in which England and France

battled on French soil over English claims to French lands.[1337-1453]

Joan of Arc:French peasant girl who rallied French troops to defeat the English in the Hundred Years’ War –

thus enabling Charles to become king of France.