Chapter 9: Middle Ages
Chivalry
-a code by which knights agreed to live by -called for them to be loyal, brave, honest, a fair fighter, and to protect the status of women -knights not living up to the code were banned from knighthood
The Doomsday Book
-a complete census taken in 1086 at William's request -told much information about William's new land -this document led to the taxation code William used
Vestige
-a contract between a king and a knight. -the king receive protection, the knight received wealth, fame, and power -determined the amount of time a knight must protect the kingdom
Buttresses
-a structure built against another to add to it's strength and support -flying buttresses make minimum contact the other wall
Thomas Becket
-archbishop of Canterbury -appointed to his influential religious position by Henry II -had bitter arguments with Henry over power of kings and church -four of Henry's knights murdered Becket at Canterbury -Henry was forced to back off his stance on power
Holy Land
-area of the Middle East where Christ was born, lived, and died -centered around the important city of Jerusalem -controlled by Christians until taken over by the Seljuk Turks during early 1000's
Urban II
-asked by Byzantine emperor to help defend the city -Roman Catholic pilgrims passed through city on way to worship in holy lands -called for a conference of church leaders and feudal lords at Clermont, France in 1095
Joust
-battle where knights would ride towards each other in an attempt to knock each other off their horse -tournaments were held where knights would compete against each other for practice and pride
Clovis
-became leader of a Germanic tribe called the Franks -took over control of Northern Gaul from the Roman Empire -converted to Christianity so had support of church
Journeyman
-began actually making the product -learned all the "ticks of the trade" from the master
Charters
-cathedral built near Paris, France -considered the best example of Gothic architecture
Master
-expert craftsman -taught the apprentice and journeyman -as the master got older they worked less -relayed on the journeymen and apprentices to take care of them in old age
Trade Fair
-fairs were designed to exchange new ideas and trade goods -included entertainers, food, and games
Serfs
-freemen, but were bound to the land that they lived on -serfs were required to pay the king a high price for the use of his land -they were also required to put in a certain amount of service to the king -since money was not used, the serf paid their debts with labor and/or products they produced -serfs received land to work for themselves, protection, and a guarantee they could remain on that land
Anglo-Saxons
-group of people who lived on the island of Britain -mixture of Germanic and Scandinavians driven off the continent of Europe
Guilds
-groups of people working in the same trade -these groups would control prices, quality, restricted competition, regulated training -contained strict guidelines and rules
King
-head of the noble system -powerful, land owning -controlled land which he divided up among those who had a service the king needed
Edward the Confessor
-his death left a controversy over who the real Anglo-Saxon king would be -he promised his cousin, William I Duke of Normandy the throne prior to his second marriage -at the time of his death, he appointed Harold Godwinson, or Harold II as king -died fighting the Normans
Alfred the Great
-king of the Anglo-Saxons from 871-899 -ended Viking domination in England becoming first king of the Anglo-Saxons
Pope Leo III
-leader of the Roman Catholic Church -feared Muslim advancements into Europe and had been losing influence since the fall of the Roman Empire -sought the assistance of the Franks to restore Christianity in Europe
Feudal System
-loosely organized system of government which develops when no central government is available -devised to maintain protection and defense
Gothic
-more modern style of architecture used from the 12th to the 16th centuries -characterised by thin walls, high vaulted ceilings, and huge stain glassed windows -usually brighter and more artistic
Parish Church
-one of the largest and most important buildings in town -provided the most basic aspect of Christianity for early Christians
Heretics
-people who questioned the basic principles of the church -viewed as unbelievers and sinful
Christendom
-refers to the social and political impact of the Christian church during the Middle Ages -Church owned huge areas of land and great influence over the political leaders of Europe
Monasticism
-refers to the way of life in monasteries or convents -clergy was divided into two groups: secular and regular -life had strict rules, physical suffering, self-denial as a way of proving dedication to god
Crusades
-series of military twelve military expeditions to regain the Holy Land from the Moslems -crusaders went to holy land various reasons; wealth, adventure, salvation -although generally unsuccessful, brought new ideas and products to Europe -nobles died in crusades, or sold too much land to finance crusades, giving rise to even more powerful king
Inquisition
-series of special religious courts set up by Pope Gregory IX -sent Dominican friars to find heretics in France -people were punished as way of gaining forgiveness of their sins -brutally punished opposition groups in France
Treaty of Verdun
-signed by Charlemagne's three grandsons, splitting the Holy Roman Empire into three sections -pretty much brought an end to the Holy Roman Empire
Romanesque
-style of architecture used from 10th to 12th centuries -characterised by thick, solid walls, huge roofs, and few windows -usually dark, cold, and damp
Coats of Arms-
-symbols and designs used as symbols for upper-class Medieval families -originally used to avoid confusion when people could not read
Bayeux Tapestry
-tapestry which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings in pictures -thinking William to be killed, the Normans appear defeated, until they see William return to the battle -Normans go on to defeat the Anglo-Saxons
Common Law
-the accepted way of determining a person's guilt or innocence through a series of ordeals -did not require a jury -it was believed that god would intervene on the behalf of the innocent and protecting them
Black Death
-the most deadly pandemic in human history spreading into Europe during the 1340's -probably one of three variations of the Bubonic plague -spread to Europe from the east during the crusades or with traders -1/2 to 1/4 of the people killed
Fief
-tract of land granted by the king to a vassals in exchange for his services -a fief included the people on them, any towns within them, and all other buildings
Henry II
-unified the legal codes by establishing traveling juries which would hear and then settle disputes
Apprentice
-young boy, entering a guild -would exchange work for the knowledge of the craft -usually carried out the simple tasks -allowed children of serfs to break their families ties to the land
William the Conqueror
also known as William the Conqueror or William Duke of Normandy -led the Norman Invasion of 1066 to claim leadership of the Anglo-Saxons -his decisive victory came at the Battle of Hastings
Knights-
given land and power in exchange for protecting the king -very strict training -very powerful in battle as they were well protected and mounted on horses
Charles Martel
leader of Franks and known as "the Hammer" -stopped the Moslem invasion of the Moors into Europe at Tours, France in AD 732 -drove Moors back across the Pyrenees Mts.
Middle Class
people who had jobs -were not wealthy, but lived a better lifestyle than the serf -eventually were classified as "freemen"
Shield Money
-knights did not want to leave their manors to fight for the king -the king would fine the knights when they did not show up -with the money, the king would hire peasants to fight for him -many knights found it better to simply pay the fine than to risk danger protecting the king
Geoffrey Chaucer
-known as the "father of English literature"f -credited with being the first writer to use the English language rather than French or Latin -wrote "The Canterbury Tales"
Castles
-large fortified homes of the King -built for protection first and comfort second -usually cold and damp, lit by candles, heated by fire -painted walls and use of tapestries made the castle look better
Manors
-large self-sufficient estates operated for the king -included contained farm and pasture land and a fortified manor home for protection - a Vassals or Lord was appointed by the king to oversee the Manor
Canon Law
-laws which were set and carried out by the church -had own court system which could excommunicate -an interdict closed down churches from and entire region
Thomas Aquinas
-Catholic Church's greatest philosophers -developed the model for modern thought and philosophy
Charlemagne
-Charles the Great, Pepin's son -crowned by Pope Leo on Christmas Day 800 as the new Roman leader -unified most christian central Europe into the Holy Roman Empire -powerful while Charlemagne was alive, but weakened after his death
Pepin III
-Charles' son, also known as Pepin the Short -gained support of Pope making his rule legitimate -secured Rome from threat of Germanic tribes -gave land to Pope (Donation of Pepin) creating the Papal State in Rome
Medieval
-Latin word meaning middle -also called the Dark Ages or Middle Ages -period of time that bridges the ancient and modern world
King John
-Pope Innocent III placed an interdict on England when John attacked the church over selection of bishops -forced by noblemen to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter) giving them some of the King's power -nobles were granted certain rights and powers, kings were not above the law -although kings powers were only slightly limited, it set the stage for future governments in Europe
