Early Middle Ages Vocab

a loosely organized system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other support to a greater lord.  Usually used in hectic and dangerous times usually after the fall of a centralized government

• Feudalism

• Caste System

• Manor System

• Vassal

a lesser lord who was granted land (fief) in exchange for service and loyalty to a greater lord.

• Vassal

• Knight

• Fief

• King

a lord’s estate which included one or more villages and surrounding lands that work as the main self sufficient economic system in the Dark Ages.  

• Pasture

• Manor System

• Feudalism

• Castle

nobles in Europe who served as a mounted (horse) warrior for a lord in the Middle Ages.  They provided protection for the lords and the manors

• Lord

• Vassal

• Knight

• Troubadour

 peasants bound to the lord’s land.  Used to produce food (on a fief) in the manor system in return for protection.

• Serf

• Untouchable

• Plebeian

• Tribute

code of honor for knights during the Middle Ages. (How they are supposed to act in regards to their lords, their duties in battle, as well as toward women)

• Canon Law

• Chivalry

• Code of Conduct

• Benedictine Rule

wandering singing minstrel in Europe in the Middle Ages (similar to the griots in Africa bc of the lack of ability to read by almost all people in Europe)

• Troubadour

• Jester

• Knight

• Serf

Body of law in the church.  Usually referring to the Catholic Church and emanating from the Pope in Rome. (Compare to Sharia in Islam)

• Canon Law

• Twelve Tables

• Common Law

• Sharia Law

sacred ritual of the Roman Catholic Church

• Baptism

• Communion

• Confirmation

• Sacrament

having to do with worldly, rather than religious matters.  Very few of these things during the Age of Faith (Middle Ages)

• Canon Law

• Scholasticism

• Secular

• Vernacular