Rulers & Gov
How did Charlemagne change Europe?
Encouraged reading and learning. Also took over many surrounding areas.
What groups shaped European society during the Middle Ages?
The aristocracy, the middle class, the peasantry, and the church.
What is the meaning of "clergy"?
People, like priests, who carry out religious duties.
What is the definition of a Vassal?
A person who receives land from a lord and in return promises to fight for the lord.
What two disasters decimated the medieval population?
Famines and the Black Death.
What was the main purpose of parliament?
To advise the king on important decisions.
Name the three societal classes in the Late Middle Ages.
The aristocracy, the middle class, and the guilds.
What did Kievan Rus focus on most in religion?
Trade, art, architecture, and literature.
What was the purpose of a Castle?
To provide a home for the lord and for protection.
What was the weakness of Kievan Rus?
Its political structure.
How did Ivan the Great shape Muscovy and Russia?
He strengthened the government with strict laws and punished his enemies.
What is the difference between a serf and a free peasant?
A serf owed labor to a lord, while a free peasant did not.
Why is this period called the Middle Ages?
It is in between the classical era and the Renaissance.
What happened to Europe after Charlemagne’s death?
They became localized again and declined in population, literacy, and trade.
What was it like inside a medieval castle?
Dark, cold, damp, cramped, and smelly.
What is the definition of per capita?
For each person.
What was the age range for students at medieval Universities?
12 - 30 years old.
What were the Crusades?
A series of wars between Christian Europe and Islamic leaders.
What were two technological advancements during the High Middle Ages?
A heavy plow and the mill.
How was the plague spread?
Fleas that traveled on rats and other mammals.
How did peasants’ lives change in the late Middle Ages?
They were freed from their work obligations, with lords improving their living situations.
What inventions changed warfare during the High Middle Ages?
The longbow, gunpowder, and cannons.
How did agriculture change during the High Middle Ages?
Farming changed from a two-field system to a three-field system.
How did monasteries provide better living standards?
They provided an orderly, educated, and economically stable life.
What were two effects of the cycle of fairs?
Reinvigoration of interregional European trade and the development of banking