| A | B |
|---|
| Middle Ages | The era in European history that followed the fall of the Roman Empire, lasting from about 500-1500, also called the medieval period |
| Franks | A Germanic people who settled in the Roman province of Gaul (now France) and established a great empire during the Middle Ages |
| monastery | A religious community of men called monks who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer and worship |
| secular | Concerned with worldly and personal matters rather than spiritual/religious matters |
| Carolingian Dynasty | A dynasty of Frankish rulers, lasting from AD 751 - 987 |
| Charlemagne | Became sole king of the Franks in 771 and continued the conquest of Europe, spread Christianity through his conquests, reunited Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire, his Carolingian empire exceeded the Byzantine Empire in size, governed wisely and encouraged learning during the medieval period |
| lord | In feudal Europe, a person who controlled estates of land and could therefore grant estates to vassals who owed their allegiance to the lord |
| fief | An estate granted to a vassal by a lord under the feudal system in medieval Europe |
| vassal | In feudal Europe, a person who received a grant of land from a lord in exchange for a pledge of loyalty and services |
| knight | In medieval Europe, an armored warrior who fought on horseback |
| serf | A medieval peasant legally bound to live and work on a lord's estate |
| manor | A lord's estate in feudal Europe; often similar to a small village |
| tithe | A family's payment of one-tenth of its income to a church |
| chivalry | A code of behavior for knights in medieval Europe, stressing ideals such as courage, loyalty, and devotion |
| tournament | A mock battle, i.e. between groups of knights |
| troubadour | A medieval poet and musician who traveled from place to place, entertaining people with songs of courtlly love |
| clergy | A body of officials who perform religious services - such as priests, ministers, or rabbis |
| sacrament | One of the Christian ceremony where partakers receive the gift of God's grace |
| canon law | The body of laws governing the religious practices of a Christian church |
| Holy Roman Empire | A church-affiliated empire established in Europe in the 10th century AD originally consisting mainly of the lands in what is now Germany and Italy |
| lay investiture | The appointment of religious officials by kings or nobles |
