Middle Ages
Also known as the medieval period. It spanned from about 500-1500. During these centuries a new society slowly emerged. It had roots in the classical heritage of Rome, the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church, and the customs of various Germanic tribes
Franks
held power in the Roman province of Gaul. Their leader was Clovis. He brought Christianity to this region.
Clovis
Was the leader of the Franks. He brought Christianity to this region. His wife had urged him to convert to her faith which was Christianity. In 496 he led his warriors against another Germanic army. Fearing defeat he prayed to God. The Franks ended up win
Pope Gregory I
became pope in 590. He broadened the the authority of the papacy , or pope's office, beyond its spiritual role. The papacy also became a secular while he was the pope. He used church revenues to raise armies, repair roads, and help the poor. He also negot
secular
concerned with worldly rather than spirtual matters
Charles Martel
the mayor of the Frankish kingdom in 719. Also known as Charles the Hammer. He held more power than the king. He extended the Franks reign to the north, south, and east. He also defeated Muslim raiders from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732. This made h
Pepin
Charles Martels son who was given his fathers power when he passed away. He wanted to be king. He shrewdly cooperated with the pope. On behalf of the Church, he agreed to fight the Lombards, who had invaded central Italy and threatened Rome. In exchange t
Carolingian Dynasty
the family that would rule the Fransk from 751 to 987. Pepin was the first ruler and was appointed as "king by the grace of God.
Charlemagne
one of Pepin's two sons. He was known as Charles the Great, and ruled the Carolingian Kingdom. He stood six feet four inches tall. He built an empire greater than any known since ancient Rome. Each summer he led his armies against enemies that surrounded
feudalism
A system of obligations that bound lords and their subjects in Europe during much of the Middle Ages. In theory, the king owned all or most of the land and gave it to his leading nobles in return for their loyalty and military service. The nobles in turn
lord
in feudal Europe, a person who controlled lands and could therefore grant estates to vassals
fief
an estate granted to a vassal by a lord under the feudal sytem in medieval Europe
vassal
in feudal Europe, a person who received a grant of land from a lord in exchange for a plede of loyalty and services
knight
in medieval Europe, an armored warrior who fought on horseback
serf
a medieval peasant legally bound to live on a lord's estate
manor
a lords estate in feudal Europe
tithe
a family's payment of one thenth of its income to the church
chivalry
a code of behavior for knights in medieval Europe, stressing ideals such as courage, loyalty, and devotion.
tournament
a mock battle between groups of knights
troubadour
a medieval poet and musician who traveled from place to place, entertaining people with songs of courtly love
canon law
the body of lwas governing the religious practices of a Christian Church
lay investiture
the appointment of religious officals by kings or nobles
simony
the selling or buying of a position in a Christian Church
Reconquista
the effort by Christian leaders to drive the Muslims out of Spain, lasting from the 1100s until 1492
Inquisition
a Roman Cahtolic tribunal for investigationg and prosecuting charges of heresy-especially the one active in Spain during the 1400s
three-field system
a system of farming developed in medieval Europe, in which farmland was divided into three fields of equal size and each of these was successively planted with a winter crop, planted witha spring crop, and left unplanted
guild
a medieval association of people working at the same occupation,which controleed its members' wages and prices
burgher
a medieval merchant-class town dweller
vernacular
the everyday language of people in a region or country
scholastics
scholars who gathered and taught at medieval European Universities
common law
a unified body of law formed from rulings of england's royal judges that serves as the basis for law in many English-speaking countries today, including the United States
parliament
a body of representatives that makes laws for a nation
bubonic plague
a deadly disease that spread across Asia and Europe in the mid-14th century, killing millions of people
Vikings
They came from the north and set sail from Scandinavia in Northern Europe. They were Germanic people who worshiped warlike gods and took pride in nicknames like Eric Bloodaxe. They did their raides very quickly and efficently. They used warships that held
Eleanor of Aquitaine
lived from 1122-1204. Was the most celebrated woman of age. Troubadours would flocked to her court int he French duchy of Aquitaine. She became queen of England and was the mother of two kings named Richard the Lion Hearted and John.
Otto I
Was the most effective ruler of medieval Germany. He was crowned king in 936. He formed a close alliance with the Church. To limit the noble's strength, he sought help from the clergy. He built up his power base by gaining the support of bishops and abbot
Holy Roman Empire
Was a German Italian empire. It remained the strongest state in Europe untill about 1100. Otto's attempt to revive Charlemagne's empire caused trouble for future German leaders.
Concordat of Worms
a agreement that was made in 1122 that stated: teh Church alone could appoint a bishop, but the emperor could veto the appointment
Frederick I
was the first ruler to call his lands the Holy Roman Empire. His forceful personality and mimlitary skills enabled him to dominate the German princes. Whenever he left the country, disorder would return. He repeatedly invaded the rich cities of Italy. His
Gothic
relating to a style of church architecture that developed in medieval Europe, featuring ribbed valts, stained glass windows, flying buttresses, pointed arches and tall spires
Romanesque
Was a style of Church in the time period of 800 and 1100. The churches had round arches and a heavy roof held up by thick walls and pillars. The thick walls had tiny windows that let in little light.
Curia
the pope's group of adviseres. They also acted as a court. It developed canon law on matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. They also decided cases based on these laws
Pope Urban the II
he issued a call for what he termed a "holy war", also known as a crusade to gain control of the Holy Land
First Crusade
By early 1097 three armies of knights and people of all classes gathered outside of Constantinople. Most were French. They were not prepared for war in this crusade. Many knew nothing of the geography, climate, or culture of the Holy Land. Finally an army
Second Crusade
The purpose was to recapture the city of Edessa which had been reconquered by the Turks. They did not recapture it and went home in defeat. They also learned that Jerusalem had fallen to a Kurdish warrior and Muslim leader, Saladin
Third Crusade
The goal was to recapture Jerusalem. It was led by three of Europe's most powerful monarchs. They were Philip II of France, Frederick I, and the English King Richard the Lion hearted. Philip argued with Richard and went home. Frederick drowned on the Jour
Saladin
Was Kurdish warrior and Muslim leader. Made the agreement with Richard that the Muslims still controlled Jerusalem as long as Christian Pilgrims could freely visit the city's holy places.
Commercial Revolution
the expansion of trade and business that transformed European economies during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Thomas Aquinas
Was a scholar the argued that the most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument.
William the Conqueror
Was the duke of Normandy. Was King Edward's cousin and he claimed the English crown and invaded England with a Norman Army. His rival was Harold Godwinson.
Henry II
Was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine from France and owned land in Normandy and in England due to the fact that Elanor was one of William the Conqueror's ancestors. The marriage brought him a large territory in France. Because he held lands in France he wa
Magna Carta
Great Charter"- a document guaranteeing basic political rights in England, drawn up by nobles and approved by King John in A.D. 1215
Hugh Capet
an undistinguished duke from the middle of France succeeded Louis the Sluggard. His family only ruled a small territory, but at its heart stood Paris. He began the Capetian dynasty of French kings that ruled from 987 to 1328. He was a weak ruler.
Philip II
Was one of the most powerful Capetians. He was also called Philip Augustus, who ruled from 1180-1223. As as a child, he had watched his father lose land to to King Henry II of England. He became king at age 15 and he set out to weaken the power of the Eng
Louis XI
Was Philips grandson. He ruled from 1226-1314. He was pious and saintly. He was known as the ideal king. After his death he was made a saint by the Catholic Church. He created a French appeals court which could overturn the decisions of local courts.
Great Schism
a division in the medieval Roman Catholic Church, during which rival popes were established in Avignon and Rome.
Hundred Year's War
a conflict in which England and France battled on French soil on and off from 1337 to 1453.
John Wycliffe
He was a Englishman who challenged the Papacy. He preached that Jesus Christ, not the pope, was the true head of Church. He was much offended by the wordiness and wealth many clergy displayed. He believed that the clergy should own no land or wealth. He a
Jan Hus
Was influenced by Whycliffe's writings. He was a professor in Bohemia and taught that the authority of the Bible was higher than the pope. He was excommunicated in 1412. In 1414 he was seized by Church leaders, tried as a heretic, and then burned at the s
Joan of Arc
In 1429 she was a teenage peasant girl and felt moved by God to rescue France from its English conquerors. When she was 13 she began to have visions and hear what she believed to be voices of the saints. They urged her to drive the English from France and