front 1 Byzantine Empire | back 1 the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire that blended Roman traditions, Greek culture, and Christianity for about 1,000 years |
front 2 Constantinople | back 2 the capital city of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most important cities in the medieval world. |
front 3 Justinian | back 3 emperor who was appointed a committee of eminent jurists to sort and organize laws |
front 4 Justinian Code | back 4 a multipart collection of laws and legal commentary issued in the 6th century by the emperor Justinian |
front 5 Heresy | back 5 a religious practice or belief judged unacceptable by church officials |
front 6 Pope | back 6 heads of the Roman Catholic church who became political as well as religious authorities. The period of a pope’s term in office is called a pontificate |
front 7 Great (East-West) Schism | back 7 is the break of communion between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church since 1054 |
front 8 Orthodox Church | back 8 another name for the Eastern Christian church, over which emperors continued to have power |
front 9 Monasticism | back 9 also called monachism or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual activities |
front 10 sacraments | back 10 certain rituals of the church believed to act as a conduit of God’s grace, such as baptism |
front 11 iconoclastic controversy | back 11 terrible theological conflict that split the Byzantine Empire world for a century; conflict over the veneration of religious images in the Byzantine Empire |
front 12 saints | back 12 people who were venerated for having lived or died in a way that was spiritually heroic or noteworthy |
front 13 barbarians | back 13 (comes from the Greek Barbaros) someone who did not speak Greek |
front 14 Clovis | back 14 was king of the Franks and ruler of much of Gaul from 481 to 511, a key period during the transformation of the Roman Empire into Europe |
front 15 Carolingians | back 15 a dynasty of rulers that took over the Frankish kingdom from the Merovingians in the 7th century; it derives from the Latin word for “Charles” the name of the several members of the dynasty |
front 16 Charlemagne | back 16 was the founder of the Carolingian Empire, and was best known for uniting Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. |
front 17 Holy Roman Empire | back 17 was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its dissolution in 1806. |
front 18 Middle Ages | back 18 (about 500–1500 CE) were the period between ancient and modern history when Europe was shaped by feudalism and strong Church influence, while Western Asia experienced powerful Islamic empires and major advances in trade, science, and learning. |
front 19 Vikings | back 19 were Scandinavian sailors and warriors during the Middle Ages who raided, traded, and settled across Europe and traveled into Western Asia through major trade routes. |
front 20 Feudalism | back 20 a medieval European political system that defines the military obligations and relations between a lord and his vassals and involves the granting of fiefs |
front 21 lords and vassals | back 21 were part of a medieval system where a lord gave land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty, protection, and military service. |
front 22 Knights | back 22 were highly trained mounted soldiers in the Middle Ages who fought for a lord or ruler in exchange for land, payment, or protection. |
front 23 serfs | back 23 a peasant who lost his or her freedom and became permanently bound to the landed estate of a lord |
front 24 Magna Carta | back 24 was a 1215 English document that limited the king’s power and helped establish the idea that even rulers must follow the law. |
front 25 Reconquista | back 25 a 14th century term used to describe the long Christian crusade to wrest Spain back from the Muslims; clerics believed it was a sacred and patriotic mission |
front 26 Crusades | back 26 Holy wars sponsored by the papacy to take the holy city of Jerusalem from the Muslims |
front 27 Jerusalem | back 27 a holy city in Western Asia that was important to Jews, Christians, and Muslims and became the center of conflict during the Crusades in the Middle Ages. |
front 28 Chivalry | back 28 a code of conduct that was supposed to govern the behavior of a knight |
front 29 Guilds | back 29 associations of artisans organized to regulate the quality, quantity and price of the goods produced as well as the number of affiliated apprentices and journeymen |
front 30 commercial revolution | back 30 the transformation of the economic structure of Europe, beginning in the 11th century, from a rural, manorial society to a more complex mercantile society |
front 31 vernacular literature | back 31 literature written in the everyday language of a region rather than Latin; this included French, German, Italian, and English |
front 32 Black Death (bubonic plague) | back 32 the plague that first struck Europe in 1347, killing perhaps one-third of the population |
front 33 Hundred Years’ War | back 33 the longest war in European history from 1337 to 1453 between England and France – lasted 116 years |
front 34 Great (Papal) Schism | back 34 was a time in the Catholic Church when there were two — and at one point even three — popes at the same time, and people did not agree on who the real pope was. It lasted from 1378 to 1417. |
front 35 Rome | back 35 was the Holy City of the West, the seat of the visible head of the Catholic Church |
front 36 Avignon | back 36 transformed from a provincial town into the center of Western Christianity, serving as the seat of seven successive popes from 1309 to 1377. |
front 37 peasant revolts | back 37 A 10,000-strong force made up of yeomen, skilled craftsmen, and laborers marched on London to demand the heads of those they blamed for the tax. |
front 38 What was the Treaty of Verdun? | back 38 The Treaty of Verdun was an agreement in 843 that divided Charlemagne’s empire among his three grandsons. |
front 39 What land did Lothair receive in 843? | back 39 Lothair received the Central Kingdom. |
front 40 What land did Louis the German receive in 843? | back 40 Louis the German received the East Frankish Kingdom, which later became part of modern Germany. |
front 41 What land did Charles the Bald receive in 843? | back 41 Charles the Bald received the West Frankish Kingdom, which later became part of modern France. |
front 42 What is the origin of the term “barbarian”? | back 42 It comes from a Greek word meaning someone who did not speak Greek. |
front 43 Who were two major barbarian groups in Europe? | back 43 The Celts and the Germans, including tribes such as the Visigoths and Franks. |
front 44 Who were the Huns and what did they do? | back 44 The Huns, led by Attila, moved west after drought in Central Asia and attacked the Byzantine Empire and parts of Europe. |
front 45 What were three consequences of barbarian movements? | back 45 1. Cultural blending, 2. The fall of the Western Roman Empire, 3. Wars between barbarian groups |
front 46 What was wergeld? | back 46 Wergeld was a payment made for causing someone’s death or injury in many barbarian law codes. |
front 47 What is another name for the Eastern Roman Empire? | back 47 The Byzantine Empire. |
front 48 Why did the Byzantine Empire survive when Western Rome fell? | back 48 It survived partly because it had a strong government and a well-fortified capital, Constantinople. |
front 49 What was Justinian’s Code? | back 49 The Corpus Juris Civilis simplified Roman law, shaped Byzantine law, and influenced modern European legal systems. |
front 50 What was Greek Fire? | back 50 was a powerful Byzantine weapon, similar to a flamethrower, used in naval battles. |
front 51 What was Constantinople? | back 51 Constantinople was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. |
front 52 What was the Black Death? | back 52 The Black Death was a deadly plague that spread across Europe in the 1300s and killed millions of people. |
front 53 When did Northern Europe experience a major famine? | back 53 Northern Europe suffered a terrible famine between 1315 and 1322. |
front 54 Where did the Black Death first arrive in Europe? | back 54 It first arrived in Italy, likely through trade routes and ships. |
front 55 Who were unfairly blamed for the Black Death? | back 55 Many people blamed Jewish communities, leading to persecution and violence. |
front 56 What were the economic effects of the Black Death? | back 56 Many peasants died, which led to labor shortages, higher wages for workers, and major economic changes. |
front 57 What were the social effects of the Black Death? | back 57 The plague caused fear, population decline, weakened the feudal system, and led to social unrest. |
front 58 What was the Hundred Years’ War? | back 58 was a long conflict (1337–1453) between England and France over territory and control of the French throne. |
front 59 What caused tension between England and France before the Hundred Years’ War? | back 59 Conflict began after the Norman Conquest, when William of Normandy conquered England, leading English kings to control land in France. |
front 60 What was the main issue in the Hundred Years’ War? | back 60 It was a dispute over territory and who had the right to rule parts of France. |
front 61 How did Joan of Arc help France? | back 61 Joan of Arc inspired the French army and helped them win important battles, turning the war in France’s favor. |
front 62 Why did the English want Joan of Arc eliminated? | back 62 The English saw Joan of Arc as a threat because she boosted French morale and helped lead French victories. |
front 63 What was the Great Papal Schism? | back 63 The Western Schism was a period when there were two (and later three) rival popes claiming to lead the Catholic Church. |
front 64 What event helped cause the Great Papal Schism? | back 64 After Pope Gregory XI died, Roman citizens demanded an Italian pope, but French cardinals later chose a different pope, creating division. |
front 65 How did the Great Papal Schism affect Christians? | back 65 The Schism weakened many people’s faith in the Church because they were unsure who the true pope was. |
front 66 How was the Great Papal Schism eventually resolved? | back 66 Church leaders met at the Council of Constance (1414–1418), removed the rival popes, and elected one pope to reunite the Church. |
front 67 How did people respond religiously during times of crisis like the Schism and plague? | back 67 Many people relied heavily on prayer and asked the Church for salvation during times of uncertainty. |
front 68 What were the Peasant Revolts? | back 68 Peasant revolts were uprisings by poor farmers in the 1300s who protested heavy taxes, unfair laws, and harsh living conditions. |
front 69 Why did war fall heavily on the peasants? | back 69 During wars like the Hundred Years' War, armies destroyed crops, burned villages, and increased taxes, causing peasants to suffer the most. |
front 70 What caused the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381? | back 70 Heavy taxes and unfair laws, especially the poll tax, led to the English Peasants' Revolt. |
front 71 What tax contributed to the 1381 revolt? | back 71 In 1380–1381, Parliament imposed a heavy poll tax on individuals to pay for war expenses, angering many poor citizens. |