Chapter 13: World History

Front 1

Middle Ages

Back 1

The era in European history that followed the fall of the Roman Empire, lasting from about 500 to 1500 - also called the medieval period.

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Franks

Back 2

The Germanic people who lived and held power in Gaul. By 511 the Franks had united into one kingdom and they controlled the largest and strongest parts of Europe.

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Monastery

Back 3

A place where communities of monks live lives of devotion to God in isolation from the outside world.

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Secular

Back 4

Things concerned with worldly matters rather than spiritual, or church matters.

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Carolingian Dynasty

Back 5

The family that ruled the Franks from 751 to 987. The Dynasty was started by Pepin The Short, and brought to the height of its power by his son Charlemagne.

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Charlemagne

Back 6

The Frankish king who conquered most of Europe and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in the year 800.

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Lord

Back 7

In the feudal system this person was a landowner, who could grant fiefs (land) to a

vassal.

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Fief

Back 8

Land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.

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Vassal

Back 9

A person granted land from a lord in return for loyalty and service.

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Knight

Back 10

A man who received honor and land in

exchange for serving a lord as a soldier. These were well trained soldiers who fought on

horseback for their chosen lord.

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Serf

Back 11

A peasant laborer who was bound by law to the lands of a noble. He was different from a slave in that he could not be bought or sold but in

every other way was owned by his feudal lord.

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Manor

Back 12

A large estate, often including farms and a

village, ruled by a lord.

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Tithe

Back 13

Also known as a Church tax, this was a tenth of a family's income given to the church.

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Chivalry

Back 14

This was a Code of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages in which they were required to be loyal to their feudal lord, God, and their

chosen lady.

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Tournament

Back 15

Mock battle in which knights would compete against one another to show off their fighting skills.

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Troubadour

Back 16

A medieval poet and musician who traveled from place to place, entertaining people.

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Clergy

Back 17

Religious officials, such as priests, given

authority to conduct religious services.

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Sacrament

Back 18

These are important religious ceremonies, in the Christian church, that help pave the way to

salvation. [ex. Baptism, Communion, Marriage]

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Canon Law

Back 19

The body of laws governing the religious

practices of the Christian church and its

members.

Front 20

Holy Roman Empire

Back 20

A political entity in Europe that began with the papal coronation of Otto I as the first emperor in 962. It was a weak political association of

independent states in Germany and Italy.

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Lay Investiture

Back 21

The appointment of religious officials by kings or nobles.

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Charles Martel

Back 22

Also known as Charles the Hammer. He was the Carolingian monarch of the Franks who was

responsible for defeating Muslims at the battle of Tours in 732, which ended the Muslim threat to western Europe.

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Charles the Bald

Back 23

He was the grandson of Charlemagne who

received the western part of the empire (modern day France) after it was divided between the 3 brothers of Louis the Pious.

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Lothair

Back 24

He was the eldest son of Louis the Pious, who took the middle kingdom and the title of

Emperor after the kingdom was split between the 3 brothers.

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Louis the German

Back 25

He was a son of Louis the Pious, who took

control of the area of modern day Germany when the empire was divided between he and his brothers.

Front 26

Treaty of Verdun

Back 26

The treaty that divided the Carolingian empire into three sections, to be split between the three sons of Louis the Pious, signed in 843.

Front 27

Leif Ericson

Back 27

The Viking explorer believed to be the first

European to reach the New World (in about 1000 AD).

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Eleanor of Aquitaine

Back 28

A powerful French duchess she divorced the king of France and then married Henry II of

England. Together they ruled all of England and about 1/2 of France. She was the mother of King Richard the Lion-Hearted, and King John.

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Richard the Lion-Hearted

Back 29

The King of England from 1189 to 1199, he was the son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. He fought in the Holy Land against Saladin during the Third Crusaded which

eventually ending in a truce.

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Otto the Great

Back 30

He was made king of Germany in 936 and formed a close alliance with the Church in order to limit the power of the nobles. In return for his military service to the pope he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 962.

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Fredrick I

Back 31

Called Barbarossa because of his red beard he was known for his powerful personality and

military ability. He was the German king who ruled the Holy Roman Empire, until his death in 1190.

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Battle of Legnano

Back 32

This battle took place in 1176 between Fredrick I "Barbarossa", and the Lombard League (a group of Italian merchants) who were joined by the Pope. Fredrick's knights were beaten by the Lombard League's foot soldiers who were using cross bows, forcing him to ask for peace.

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Einhard

Back 33

He was a monk and scholar who worked in the court of Charlemagne.

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Benedict

Back 34

An Italian monk who lived from 480-547 and founded the Benedictine order. He wrote a set of rules to be followed in order to live a holy life.

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Scholastica

Back 35

She was the sister of Benedict who headed a convent and adapted her brothers rules, for a holy life, for women.

Front 36

Venerable Bede

Back 36

He was an English monk who wrote a history of England in 731, which is considered one of the best works of the medieval ages.

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Gregory I

Back 37

He was a strong pope, known as Gregory the Great, who strengthened the power of the

papacy (office of the pope) and the church. He extended his power to include worldly politics and not just spiritual matters.

Front 38

Clovis

Back 38

He was the Frankish king who converted the Franks to Christianity around 496. He was able to unite all the Frankish people into one

kingdom under his rule by 511.

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Louis the Pious

Back 39

He was Charlemagne's only surviving son who ruled the Carolingian empire from 814-840. He was a very devout man, but an inept leader, who divided the empire between his 3 sons bringing an end to Carolingian Empire.

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Northmen

Back 40

Another name for Vikings these were Germanic people who attacked and pillaged the people of Europe.

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Vikings

Back 41

Also known as "Norsemen" or "Northmen" these German and Scandinavian peoples raided Europe from the 700's through the 1100's.

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Magyars

Back 42

This nomadic group attacked Western Europe from the east, sweeping across the plains of the Danube River. They came from what is now Hungary and were known for their great horsemanship.

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Lombards

Back 43

A Germanic people who invaded northern Italy in the 6th century and later parts of western Gaul (France). When they attacked Rome they were defeated by Charlemagne who was then crowned Emperor as thanks for his service.

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Abbots

Back 44

These men were the religious leaders of a monastery.

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Emperor Henry IV

Back 45

He fought against Pope Gregory VII over the power to choose church officials and was

excommunicated. He had to beg for forgiveness for three days in the cold, in order to be let back in the church.

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Pope Leo III

Back 46

He crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, 800.

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The Song of Roland

Back 47

A famous medieval epic poem that praises a band of French soldiers who perished in battle during Charlemagne's reign.

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Excommunication

Back 48

This was a form of punishment for not following Church law. It meant that a person was banned from the Church and its sacraments, in other words, you could not go to heaven.

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Interdict

Back 49

The pope could forbid priests to give the

sacraments of the Church to the people of a town, or a country (kicking them out of the church). This was a weapon of the Roman Catholic church in order to punish those who went against the Pope.

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Pope Gregory VII

Back 50

He banned Lay Investitures because he thought popes should have the power to name bishops not the kings. He excommunicated Henry IV

because he spoke out against him over this

issue, causing a standoff that Gregory eventually won.

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Concordat of Worms

Back 51

A compromise between the king and the Pope that stated that the church alone could grant a church position, but the King would have the right to veto the position.

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Page

Back 52

A young boy, usually around the age of 7, who was sent to a castle to learn courtly manners and begin his training to become a knight.

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Squire

Back 53

When a Page reached the age of 14 he was able to become a servant of a Knight who would then train him.

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Caltrops

Back 54

Two inch iron spikes thrown on battlefields

intended to wound horses and foot soldiers.