MEDIEVAL LIFE
What was the period in European history between about 500 and 1500 CE called?
The Middle Ages (medieval period)
What was the system of government and land ownership used in much of medieval Europe?
Feudalism
What was the main purpose of a medieval castle?
Protection and defense
What religion was dominant in medieval Western Europe?
Christianity
What was a guild?
An organization of people who shared the same trade or craft
What did a lord give a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service?
Land, often called a fief
What was a knight?
A trained mounted warrior who served a lord
What was a monastery?
A religious community where monks lived and worked
Name one common job of a medieval craftsman.
blacksmith, carpenter, weaver, baker, or shoemaker
What was a serf?
A peasant who worked the lord’s land and was tied to the manor
What was the code of behavior expected of knights called?
Chivalry
What did medieval monks often do to preserve books?
They copied manuscripts by hand
What was a market town?
A town where people gathered to buy, sell, and trade goods
What was a manor?
A lord’s estate that included farmland, homes, and often a village
What is a moat?
A ditch, often filled with water, surrounding a castle
What is a cathedral?
A large and important Christian church
Why were rivers important to medieval towns?
They provided transportation, water, food, and helped trade
Why did feudalism develop?
It provided protection and organization during a time of political instability
Why were castles often built on hills or other high ground?
The height made them easier to defend and allowed defenders to see approaching enemies
Why were monasteries important to learning?
Monks preserved and copied books and taught religious and academic subjects