Medieval History

What was feudalism?

A social and economic system where lords granted land (fiefs) to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty

What were the Crusades?

A series of religious wars (1095–1291) sanctioned by the Latin Church to recover the Holy Land from Muslim rule

What was the Magna Carta?

A charter signed in 1215 by King John of England, limiting royal power and establishing principles of due process and rule of law

What was the Black Death?

A devastating plague pandemic (1347–1351) that killed an estimated 30–60% of Europe's population

What was the Holy Roman Empire?

A multi-ethnic complex of territories in Western and Central Europe (800–1806), neither wholly holy, Roman, nor a unified empire

Who was Charlemagne?

King of the Franks and Lombards, crowned Emperor by the Pope in 800 AD, who united much of Western Europe

What was the role of monasteries in medieval Europe?

They preserved classical learning, provided education, cared for the sick, and served as centers of agricultural innovation

What was the Hundred Years' War?

A series of conflicts (1337–1453) between England and France over the French throne, featuring Joan of Arc

What was the Byzantine Empire?

The eastern continuation of the Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople, lasting from 330 to 1453 AD

Who was William the Conqueror?

Duke of Normandy who invaded England and won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, becoming King of England