Vocabulary Nail-Biters
relating to the Middle Ages
medieval
What kinds of jobs were serfs required to do on the manor estate?
serfs had to maintain the lord’s manor, protect the lord’s land and other jobs
Why did the collapse of the Western Roman Empire make it possible for the bishop of Rome to become more powerful?
there was no longer a ruling emperor
Why do you think the story of
Joan of Arc is still remembered
today?
Joan came from humble beginnings but ended up having a huge effect on her country, and even on the world.
How did Saint Benedict’s ideas help people in Europe during the
Middle Ages?
monks and nuns helped the poor and needy by establishing hospitals,
schools, and libraries.
a group of people who listen to information during a trial to decide whether a person is guilty or innocent
jury
What was the life of a knight like?
he would be a squire before being
knighted, then be in tournaments, protected his lord, and followed the Code of Chivalry.
How did William’s successful
invasion of England affect the
English language?
over time, the languages blended, giving English a mixture of French
and Germanic words.
How was life in a medieval city
different from life on a manor
estate?
a person in a city could join a guild and work in a shop, while a person at a manor
had to work on the land
What changes led to the decline of the Western Roman Empire?
invasions of the barbarians
a person who takes control of a territory after an invasion
Conquerer
How was life in a medieval city
different from life on a manor
estate?
a person in a city could join a guild and work in a shop, while a person at a manor
had to work on the land
How did the shield tax benefit King Henry II and future kings?
it reduced the power and authority
of the nobles; and it increased the power of the king to control wars
Why were castles important in the Middle Ages?
to protect against attack
Why does the author say that serfs lived close to the land?
serfs stayed on the land if it was transferred to a new lord and could not be sold apart from it
a person of low social rank, usually a farmer or unskilled worker
peasant
What was it like to be a woman in the Middle Ages?
most women had hard lives full of work and poor health, and they lacked many career choices other than religious life.
Why did Henry II regret the words he spoke about Thomas Becket?
he didn’t actually want Becket to be killed, and he understood that his anger brought about the murder of Becket
Why did King Charles earn the title Charles the Great, or Charlemagne?
his act to rescue the pope
Why do you think the author describes Eleanor as extraordinary?
she solved problems, including standard coins, a system of
weights and measures, and doing away with some unfair rules
a highly contagious disease
plague
How did the feudal system hold people, communities, and
kingdoms together?
a king gave vassals land in exchange for loyalty
How did the decline of the feudal system change people’s loyalties?
people became more loyal to their king, rather than to their local nobles
What problems arose as a result of not having a central government?
deterioration of aqueducts and roads
How did the decline of the feudal system change people’s loyalties?
people became more loyal to their king, rather than to their local nobles