Power Words (Vocab)
This term refers to the essential social and political system of the Middle Ages in which vassals were protected and maintained by their lords through land grants.
What is feudalism?
Around 430 AD, this monk traveled from Britain to Ireland to teach and convert the population to Christianity.
Who is Saint Patrick?
This Germanic tribe helped strengthen and spread Christianity across Northern Europe.
Who are the Franks?
These land grants were given by kings to noblemen, or by noblemen to knights, in exchange for military service and loyalty.
What are fiefs?
This power word describes Europe and Asia when considered together as a single continent.
What is Eurasia?
This power word describes a peasant in servitude, required to render services and bound to a lord's land.
What is a serf?
In 800 AD, this Pope crowned Charlemagne as the "Holy Roman Emperor" after receiving help to drive invaders out of Italy.
Who is Pope Leo III?
Monks lived, studied Christianity, prayed, and worshipped inside these strictly organized religious communities.
What are monasteries?
Medieval knights received land for their protection services and fought using this form of military transport.
What is on horseback?
These two major rocky mountain ranges are located in Southern Europe.
What are the Alps and the Apennines?
This medieval engine of war featured a sling used for hurling heavy missiles at enemy structures.
What is a trebuchet?
This King of the Franks created a vast European empire, established a silver currency, and expanded education before his death in 814 AD.
Who is Charlemagne?
Obedience to this monastery leader was the main theme of the Benedictine Rule.
What is the Abbot?
A self-sustaining medieval manor typically consisted of the lord's house, a village, and the surrounding land features.
What is farmland?
Between 700 AD and 800 AD, these seafaring raiders took advantage of instability in Western Europe to attack coastal villages.
Who are the Vikings?
This code of honor governed the religious, moral, and social behavior of medieval knights.
What is chivalry?
This devout Christian monk founded his own monastery by 529 AD and wrote a strict set of rules for monastic life focusing on obedience and humility.
Who is Saint Benedict?
This was the largest group of monks in Medieval Europe, who lived under strict vows forbidding personal property or leaving without permission.
What is the Benedictine Order (Benedictine Monks)?
These two specific groups of noblemen received land directly from the king and pledged to provide soldiers when needed.
Who are barons and bishops?
Following the fall of Rome, four major characteristics defined the Early Middle Ages: little trade, absence of unified government, political chaos/warfare, and this localized system.
What are kingdoms / manor life?
This feudal rule of succession dictates that land and property are inherited by the firstborn child, specifically the eldest son.
What is primogeniture?
After winning the Battle of Hastings in 1066, this leader became King of England and introduced feudalism by distributing large land estates to his knights.
Who is William I (William the Conqueror)?
Name three ways monks aided medieval communities outside of their daily worship.
What are running schools/teaching reading and writing, providing healthcare, saving Greek and Roman writings, helping the poor, or serving as scribes/advising rulers?
Listed in order from highest to lowest rank, these are the four levels of the European Feudalism Pyramid.
What are King, Nobles, Knights, and Peasants (Serfs)?
This major European river is specifically highlighted as playing a vital role in trade and communication.
What is the Volga River?