England and France
A Frankish noble family that ruled over a large part of Western Europe during the Early Middle Ages, most notably under the reign of Charlemagne
Carolinian Dynasty
What their labor produced belonged to the lord.
Peasants
The Duke of Normandy during the Dark Ages, who invaded England in 1066 and defeated the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
William the Conqueror
Religious officials who are authorized to perform religious duties and provide spiritual guidance
Clergy
Approximately one-third of the population of Europe died of the deadly disease
Bubonic Plague
Was a medieval emperor and king of the Franks who united most of Western and Central Europe
Charlemagne
Mounted horsemen who pledged to defend their lords’ lands in exchange for fiefs
Knights
The original legislative assembly of England
Parliament
Worldly or temporal aspects of life, not concerned with religion
Secular
Style of architecture prevalent in western Europe in the 12th–16th centuries, characterized by pointed arches
Gothic
King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. Also led the 3rd crusade
Richard the Lion-Hearted
A landowner
Lord
A representative assembly comprising the 3 social classes in France.
Estates-General
Payment to the church that represented one-tenth of their income.
Tithe
Increased availability of trade goods and new ways of doing business changed life in Europe.
Commercial Revolution
Complicated ongoing conflict between the kingdoms of England and France, rooted in territorial disputes and control of the French crown.
100 Years War
A piece of land or other property given to a vassal in exchange for their service to a lord or king
Fief
A document that established the rights of the English people and limited the power of the king. It was signed by King John on June 15, 1215.
Magna Carta
Important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation.
Sacraments
Scholars who met at the great universities were known as schoolmen
Scholastics
In 1429, a teenage French peasant girl named felt moved by God to rescue France from its English conquerors.
Joan of Arc
A person who pledged loyalty and service to a superior lord, typically receiving land (called a fief)
Vassal
King of France from 987 to 996, and the first of a direct line of 14 Capetian kings that took over France following the decline of the Carolina monarchy.
Hugh Capet
A Catholic judicial system that persecuted people who were considered heretics, or who strayed from the Catholic Church
Inquisition
Merchant-class town dwellers
Burghers