Question | Answer |
medieval | The Middle Ages from 500-1000. Greco-Roman and Germanic |
frontier | sparsely populate, undeveloped are |
missi dominici | officials that were ent out to keep an eye on nobles in local regions. |
cirriculum | formal course of study based on Latin learning |
feudalism | loosely organized system of rule which powerful local lords divided their landholdings amoung lesser lords |
vassal | lesser lords, pledged service and loyalty to greater lord |
feudal contract | exchange of pledges between lord and vassal, lord promisses to protect vassal, and vassal promisses service |
fief | to a vassal from his lord |
knight | a mounted warrior, many nobles trained from boyhood |
tournaments | mock battles with knights |
chivalry | knights code of conduct, knights must be brave and loyal |
troubadors | wandering poet |
manor | the heart of medieval economy, lord's estate |
serfs | peasants on a manor, bound to the land |
sacrament | the sacred rights of the Church, would lead to salvation, or everlasting life with god |
tithe | a tax made by the Church |
secular | having to do with wordly rather than religion |
papal supremecy | the pope would claim authority over all secular rulers |
canon law | the Churche's laws, if disobeyed they faced a penalty |
excommunication | a penalty for dysobeying canon law, if so, could not receive sacraments |
interdict | an order excluding a town, region, or kingdom from receiving most sacraments |
simony | the selling of church officials (Pope Gregory) |
friar | monks who didn't live in isolated monatries |
antisemitism | prejudice towards Jews |
charter | money in exchange for land |
capital | investing money |
partnership | merchants working together more money |
bill of exchange | put money in bank in exchange for a bill, give bill to another bank an you get your money, no money stolen |
tenant farmers | people who paid rent for their land or hired farm laborers |
"Town Air Makes Free" | you are a free serf after 1 year and 1 day |
middle class | between nobles and peasants (merchants, traders, artists) |
usury | lending money at interest |
guilds | merchants and artistans formed associations, pass laws and taxes |
apprentice | trainee to a master |
journeymen | guild members, often accused masters of keeping their wages low so they won't be able to open a competing shop |