Feudalism
This political and social system of the Middle Ages was based on land ownership and mutual obligations between lords and vassals.
What is Feudalism?
This religion dominated Western Europe during the Middle Ages and influenced nearly every aspect of daily life.
What is Christianity (or the Catholic Church)?
This economic system of the Middle Ages centered around a self-sufficient estate owned by a lord.
What is the manor system?
Unlike the Romans, many Germanic kingdoms lacked this type of formal, written legal system.
What is codified law?
This term refers to the revival of European society after the early Middle Ages, including growth in towns and trade.
What is the resurgence (or revival) of Europe?
In the feudal system, these warriors served lords in exchange for land and protection.
Who were knights?
These religious leaders oversaw groups of churches and served as powerful authorities within the Church hierarchy.
Who were bishops?
These peasants were bound to the land and required to work for the lord in exchange for protection.
Who were serfs?
In this type of medieval trial, the accused had to perform a dangerous task—like holding hot iron—to prove innocence.
What is trial by ordeal?
An economic system where things that make money, are owned by private businesses, which trade in a ‘free market’ of competition
What is capitalism?
This ceremony formalized the relationship between a lord and a vassal, where loyalty and military service were promised.
What is a feudal contract?
This punishment by the Church removed a person from the Christian community and denied them access to the sacraments.
What is excommunication?
Because trade declined after the fall of Rome, this system of exchanging goods without money became common.
What is bartering?
In this form of justice, the accused fought another person, believing God would grant victory to the innocent.
What is ordeal by combat?
Businesses owned by multiple investors who share profits and losses.
What are joint-stock companies?
In feudal society, these powerful landowners granted land to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service.
Who were lords (or nobles)?
This type of religious community allowed monks to dedicate their lives to prayer, learning, and preserving knowledge.
What is a monastery?
This farming technique was used to allow crops to grow during different seasons
What is 3 Farm Rotation?
These local courts were run by the lord of the manor and handled disputes between peasants.
What are manorial courts?
People could become wealthy through trade and business, which allowed for greater social mobility and the creation of which new group?
What is the middle class?
This term refers to the land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for service in the feudal system.
What is a fief?
In 800 AD, this Frankish king was crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” by Pope Leo III, symbolizing the alliance between Church and state.
Who was Charlemagne?
This was the most valuable economic commodity within a manor system
What is land?
These dealt with the most serious crimes such as treason, murder, arson, adultery
What are King's Courts?
These groups of merchants and craftsmen formed organizations to regulate trade, prices, and training.
What are guilds?