| A | B |
|---|
| MIDDLE AGES | the era in European history that followed the fall of Roman Empire; also called medieval period |
| FRANKS | a Germanic people who settled in the Roman province of Gaul (France) & established a great empire during Middle Ages |
| MONASTERY | a religious community of men who give up possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer & worship; considered major center of learning |
| SECULAR | concerned w/ worldly (political) rather than spiritual matters |
| CAROLINGIAN DYNASTY | a dynasty of Frankish rulers, lasting 751-987 AD |
| CHARLEMAGNE | built great empire by limiting power of nobles; traveling throughout kingdom & judging disputes; western Europe was reunited after his fall |
| CHANGES IN WESTERN EUROPE BRINGING DOWNFALL OF CITIES | disruption of trade; population shifts, lack of strong leaders |
| POPULATION MOST LIKELY TO BE LITERATE AFTER CITY DECLINES | priests & church officials |
| CLOVIS | brought Christianity to the Franks |
| LORD | in feudal Europe, a person who controlled land & could grant estates to vassals |
| FIEF | an estate granted to a vassal by a lord under the feudal system in medieval Europe |
| VASSAL | in feudal Europe, a person who recieved a grant of land from a lord in exchange for a pledge of loyalty & services |
| KNIGHT | in medieval Europe, an armored warrior who fought on horseback |
| SERF | a medieval peasant legally bound to live on lord's estate |
| MANOR | a lord's estate in feudal Europe |
| TITHE | a family's payment of 1/10th of its income to a church |
| REASON WHY VIKING INVASIONS STOP | farming conditions improved & home |
| CHIVALRY | a code of behavior for knights in medieval Europe, stressing ideals such as courage, loyalty & devotion to lady, feudal lord & heavenly lord |
| TOURNAMENT | a mock battle between groups of knights |
| TROUBADOUR | a medieval poet & musician who traveled from place to place, entertaining people w/ songs about love |
| CHARLES MARTEL | became hero after defeating Muslim invaders; position of major domo |
| ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE | beautiful queen of England; subject of many songs |
| CLERGY | a body of officials who perform religious services- priests, ministers, rabbis |
| SACRAMENT | one of the Christian ceremonies in which God's grace is transmitted to people |
| CANON LAW | the body of laws governing the religious practices of the Christian church |
| HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE | an empire established in Europe in 10th century AD; consisted of lands in what is now Germany & Italy |
| LAY INVESTITURE | the appointment of religious officials by kings or nobles |
| CONCORDAT OF WORMS | resolved power struggle between church & Holy Roman emperor |
| INTERDICT | removal of right to perform religious ceremonies on certain land |
| BENEDICT | established lasting rules for monastic life |
| TREATY OF VERDUN | divided Charlemagne's empire into three parts |
| EXCOMMUNICATION | banishment from Church |
