Vocabulary 1
relating to the Middle Ages in Europe
Medieval
the ability to read
literacy
an area of land or property
estate
having the power of self government
autonomous
a large country house and its surrounding land
manor
BCE is the abbreviation for...
Before common era
plowed but with nothing planted for a period in order to restore the land’s fertility
fallow
What arose because kings often needed warriors to fight for them?
Feudalism
CE is the abbreviation for...
Common Era
decorated by hand with designs
illuminated
in a Christian church, people, such as priests, who carry out religious duties
clergy
Charlemagne’s greatest talents were ...
organizing and managing people
powerful families that hold fiefs and titles
nobility
a person who receives land from a ruler and in return promises to fight for the ruler
vassal
Who tried to spread Christianity and encouraged learning?
Charlemagne
a place where communities of monks live
monastery
a system of government in which land is exchanged for loyalty and services
feudalism
a social structure marked by the dominance of the father in the family
patriarchy
an organization that has existed for a long time and promotes a particular cause
institution
the upper or noble class whose members’ status is usually inherited
aristocracy
a soldier on horseback who serves a king or other ruler
knight
a plot of land exchanged for loyalty to a ruler
fief
a person living on a feudal estate who was required to work for the lord of the manor
serf
a group of craftspeople who control a certain craft
guild
a person with power and influence who controls land given to them by a king
lord