Medieval Europe Vocab Set 1

This was the strongest Germanic group that settled in what is now France and western Germany. Their popular leader Clovis was the first Germanic ruler to accept Christianity.

• The Franks

• The Normans

• The Vikings

This man was leader of The Franks for 47 years and controlled a large empire in western Europe. He greatly advanced learning and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope.

• Clovis

• Charlemagne

• William the Conqueror

This was a famous group of excellent sailors from Scandinavia who invaded many kingdoms after Charlemagne died. They were a brutal and feared group and explored many areas, even North America.

• The Vikings

• The Normans

• The Americans

• The Franks

A system in which people were given land and protection by people of higher rank, and worked and fought for them in return

• feudalism

• democracy

• fiefdom

A member of the upper class of Europe who held a lot of social and economic power.

• noble

• vassal

• serf

A farming community during medieval times that included the noble’s castle and surrounding fields, and a peasant village.

• manor

• vassal

• fied

A lower-ranking noble who served a lord in the feudal system.

• vassal

• fief

• serf

A feudal estate (house and property) given to a vassal in exchange for work or fighting in battle.

• fief

• guild

• manor

A member of the peasant class tied to the land who could not own land, move or marry without their noble’s permission

• serf

• vassal

• guild

A group of merchants or craftspeople during medieval times, similar to a labor union today.

• guild

• fief

• manor