Key Vocab
The economic and political system of the middle ages.
Feudalism
What the Middle Ages are in the middle of
The fall of the western Roman Empire and the Renaissance
In feudalism, kings granted nobles(vassals) a fief(usually land) in exchange for this
A promise of protection(usually from knights on horseback)
The main religion of the Byzantine Empire
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
These warriors and expert sailors terrified Europe with their constant raids
The Vikings
An organization of people in the same trade formed to guide and protect their workers
A guild
These places were an important part of the Middle Ages because they provided safe rest stops for travelers, and monks preserved ancient texts there
Monasteries
These two groups worked hard on the land for very little pay
Serfs and peasants
The capital of the Byzantine Empire
Constantinople
He briefly reunified most of the Christian lands of Europe while encouraging education and scholarship
Charlemagne
A code of ideal behavior including bravery, loyalty, and respect for women
Chivalry
This organization was the center of community life and had great economic and political power
The Roman Catholic Church
The biggest difference between serfs and peasants
Peasants are free but serfs are bound to the manor
This ancient civilization had the most influence on the Byzantine Empire
Greece
Although a military failure, these conflicts between Christians and Muslims led to much cultural diffusion between Europe and the Middle East and Asia
The Crusades
Christians often made these to show their religious devotion
Pilgrimages
When King John signed this document, his power was limited and a more democratic system began
The Magna Carta
They were at the top of the feudal social pyramid
Kings or monarchs
This Byzantine emperor is best known for his code of laws
Justinian I
Because Christianity was such an important part of people’s lives, the Middle Ages is sometimes called this
The Age of Faith
A body of rulings based on judges decisions or past traditional practices
Common law
This event caused the death of millions and created a labor shortage that actually gave common people more power
The Black Death or bubonic plague
The reason feudalism was first created
To establish a stable social order in Europe
The Greeks influenced the Byzantines most in these 3 areas
Language, art, and architecture
This is why Europe was very dangerous after the fall of the western Roman Empire
The lack of a central government and a system of defense