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Middle Ages Period in Europe from about 500 to 1500 CE; also called the medieval era world-medieval-europe
Medieval Of the Middle Ages world-medieval-europe
Franks Germanic people who built a powerful kingdom in what is now France world-medieval-europe
Charlemagne King of the Franks crowned emperor in 800 world-medieval-europe
Clovis First Frankish king to unite the Franks world-medieval-europe
Vikings Seafaring Norsemen who raided and traded from the late 700s world-medieval-europe
Longship Narrow, fast Viking vessel world-medieval-europe
Leif Erikson Norse explorer who reached North America around 1000 world-medieval-europe
William the Conqueror Duke of Normandy who won England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 world-medieval-europe
Battle of Hastings (1066) Norman victory that began Norman rule of England world-medieval-europe
Domesday Book Survey of English land ordered by William in 1086 world-medieval-europe
Feudalism System where lords gave land in exchange for loyalty and service world-medieval-europe
Lord Landowner who held power over a territory world-medieval-europe
Vassal Person who held land from a lord and promised service world-medieval-europe
Knight Mounted soldier who served a lord world-medieval-europe
Chivalry Knightly code of bravery, courtesy and honor world-medieval-europe
Squire Young man training to become a knight world-medieval-europe
Page Boy who started training for knighthood world-medieval-europe
Manor Lord's estate with a village and farmland world-medieval-europe
Serf Peasant bound to the land and to a lord world-medieval-europe
Peasant Farm worker who made up most of the population world-medieval-europe
Three-field system Rotating crops across three fields to keep soil healthy world-medieval-europe
Castle Fortified home of a lord world-medieval-europe
Moat Ditch, often water-filled, around a castle world-medieval-europe
Drawbridge Bridge over a moat that could be raised world-medieval-europe
Keep Strong central tower of a castle world-medieval-europe
Portcullis Heavy gate lowered to block a castle entrance world-medieval-europe
Siege Surrounding a castle or town to force surrender world-medieval-europe
Catapult Machine that hurled stones at walls world-medieval-europe
Longbow Powerful bow used by English archers world-medieval-europe
Armor Protective metal covering world-medieval-europe
Roman Catholic Church Dominant church in western Europe during the Middle Ages world-medieval-europe
Pope Head of the Catholic Church world-medieval-europe
Monastery Home of monks who prayed, worked and copied books world-medieval-europe
Monk Man who lives a religious life in a monastery world-medieval-europe
Nun Woman who lives a religious life in a convent world-medieval-europe
Illuminated manuscript Hand-copied book decorated with gold and colors world-medieval-europe
Cathedral Large and important church world-medieval-europe
Gothic architecture Style with pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses world-medieval-europe
Stained glass Colored glass windows in churches world-medieval-europe
Guild Association of craftsmen or merchants in a town world-medieval-europe
Apprentice Young person learning a trade world-medieval-europe
Charter Document granting rights to a town world-medieval-europe
Magna Carta (1215) English charter limiting the king's power; signed by King John world-medieval-europe
King John English king forced by barons to sign the Magna Carta world-medieval-europe
Parliament English lawmaking body that grew from royal councils world-medieval-europe
Eleanor of Aquitaine Powerful queen of France and later England world-medieval-europe
Crusades Religious wars from 1095 to 1291, mainly to control Jerusalem world-medieval-europe
Pope Urban II Called the First Crusade in 1095 world-medieval-europe
Saladin Muslim leader who retook Jerusalem in 1187 world-medieval-europe
Richard the Lionheart English king who led the Third Crusade world-medieval-europe
Effects of the Crusades Increased trade and exchange of ideas between Europe and the Middle East world-medieval-europe
Marco Polo's trip Italian merchant who traveled to China in the late 1200s world-medieval-europe
Hanseatic League Alliance of northern European trading cities world-medieval-europe
Black Death Plague that killed perhaps a third of Europeans, 1347-1351 world-medieval-europe
Bubonic plague Disease spread by fleas on rats, cause of the Black Death world-medieval-europe
Effects of the Black Death Labor shortages gave surviving workers more bargaining power world-medieval-europe
Hundred Years' War Long conflict between England and France, 1337-1453 world-medieval-europe
Joan of Arc French teenage heroine who helped lift the siege of Orleans in 1429 world-medieval-europe
Battle of Agincourt (1415) English longbowmen won against a larger French army world-medieval-europe
Peasants' Revolt (1381) English uprising against taxes world-medieval-europe
Reconquista Centuries-long effort by Christian kingdoms to retake Iberia world-medieval-europe
Byzantine Empire Eastern Roman Empire, ruled from Constantinople world-medieval-europe
Justinian Byzantine emperor who built Hagia Sophia and organized Roman law world-medieval-europe
Hagia Sophia Great church in Constantinople completed in 537 world-medieval-europe
Fall of Constantinople (1453) Ottoman Turks captured the city, ending the Byzantine Empire world-medieval-europe
Gutenberg Introduced the printing press with movable type in Europe around 1450 world-medieval-europe
Dante Italian poet who wrote the Divine Comedy world-medieval-europe
Chaucer English author of The Canterbury Tales world-medieval-europe
Thomas Aquinas Scholar who tried to combine faith and reason world-medieval-europe
University Medieval schools in Bologna, Paris and Oxford grew into universities world-medieval-europe
Tournament Contest where knights showed skill world-medieval-europe
Heraldry System of coats of arms to identify families and knights world-medieval-europe
Jester Entertainer at court, often wearing bright clothes world-medieval-europe
Troubadour Poet-musician in southern France world-medieval-europe
Dark Ages Old name for the early Middle Ages; many historians now avoid it world-medieval-europe
Holy Roman Empire Union of German and central European lands under an emperor world-medieval-europe
Otto I King crowned emperor in 962, starting the Holy Roman Empire world-medieval-europe
Wat Tyler Leader of the Peasants' Revolt world-medieval-europe