Medieval Europe Vocabulary

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Fief

Back 1

A feudal estate of which the lord exercises control.

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Feudal System

Back 2

System of government in which local rulers swore allegiance to their monarch in return for control over
their lands and serfs (fief).

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Manor

Back 3

Unit in the Middle Ages consisting of an estate under a lord enjoying a variety of rights over land and tenants including the right to hold court.

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Vassal

Back 4

A person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he has vowed homage and fealty : a feudal tenant : one in a
subservient or subordinate position.

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Secular

Back 5

Not specifically religious.

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Clergy

Back 6

A group ordained to perform pastoral or sacerdotal functions.

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Priest

Back 7

One authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion.

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Self-Sufficient

Back 8

Being able to sustain life through raising your food and making your tools and clothes.

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Angles-Saxons

Back 9

A member of the Germanic peoples conquering England in the fifth century A.D. and forming the ruling class until the Norman conquest.

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Vikings

Back 10

Norsemen plundering the coasts of Europe in the 8th to 10th centuries.

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Magyars

Back 11

A member of the dominant people of Hungary.

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Scandinavia

Back 12

Denmark, Norway, Sweden —sometimes also considered to include Iceland.

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Russia

Back 13

Slavic land of eastern Europe and western Asia ruled by
Vikings.

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Franks

Back 14

West Germanic tribal confederacy that entered the Roman provinces in A.D. 253, occupied the Netherlands and most of Gaul.

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Disrupt

Back 15

To throw into disorder or to interrupt the normal course or unity.

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Medieval

Back 16

Middle Ages.

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Urban

Back 17

Relating to a city.

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Rural

Back 18

Relating to the country, country people or life.

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Black Death

Back 19

A severe epidemic of plague and especially bubonic plague that occurred in Asia and Europe in the 14th century.

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Czar

Back 20

Ruler of Russia.

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Magna Carta

Back 21

A charter of liberties to which the English barons forced King John to sign in June 1215 at Runnymede.

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Moors

Back 22

Spanish Muslims.

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Paris

Back 23

Named the capital city of France.

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Reconquista

Back 24

Reconquest of the Muslim areas of Spain.

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Common Law

Back 25

Body of English law based on tradition and court decisions not specific written laws.

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Nation State

Back 26

A body of people composed of one or more nationalities under the same government.

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Evolution

Back 27

The act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced.

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Parliament

Back 28

The highest lawmaking body of a political unit.

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Norman Conquest

Back 29

William of Normandy invaded England and became
King giving land to his Norman Vassals in return for their military service.

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Mongols

Back 30

Asian invaders who conquered much of known world.

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Centralized

Back 31

To concentrate by placing power and authority in a center.

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Crusaders

Back 32

European Christians who undertook a series of military
expeditions – nine in all – to recover the holy land of Jerusalem from the Muslims.

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Sack

Back 33

To come into contact with something or attack.

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Stimulate

Back 34

To arouse to activity.

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Scarcity

Back 35

Lack of provisions for support of life.

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Serf

Back 36

A member of a servile feudal class bound to the land and subject to the will of its owner.