| A | B |
|---|
| vassal | the lesser lords under the powerful local lords |
| fief | estate granted to the lesser lords or vassals |
| knight | mounted warrior |
| chivalry | code of conduct adopted by the knights |
| troubadour | wandering poets |
| manor | the lord’s estate |
| serf | peasants on a manor that were bound to the land, who were not slaves but could not leave the manor without the lord’s permission |
| secular | worldly , not of the church |
| sacraments | sacred rituals of the church |
| canon law | the body of laws of the Roman Catholic Church |
| excommunication | a penalty for those who did not obey Church laws. It means that they could not receive Church sacraments. |
| interdict | punishment for nobles who violated Church laws. It meant that the entire town, region or kingdom could not participate in most sacraments or receive a Christian burial. |
| tithe | a tax equal to one tenth of a person’s income that was used to support the Church. |
| anti – Semitism | prejudice against Jews |
| charter | a written document that set out the rights and privileges of a town |
| capital | money for investing |
| usury | lending money at interest |
| guilds | associations that passed laws, levied taxes, and decided how to spend funds |
| apprentice | a trainee that works with a master of a trade to learn the trade |
