Middle Ages Vocabulary Middle Ages n the era

Middle Ages Vocabulary • Middle Ages: n. the era in European history that followed the fall of the Roman Empire, lasting from about 500 to 1500—also called the medieval period. • Franks: a Germanic people who settled in the Roman province of Gaul (roughly the area now occupied by France) and established a great empire during the Middle ages.

• Monastery: a religious community of men (called monks) who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer and worship. • Secular: concerned with worldly rather than spiritual matters. • Carolingian Dynasty: a dynasty of Frankish rulers, lasting from a. d. 751 to 987.

• Charlemagne (Charles the Great): Ruled the Frankish Kingdom from 771 - 814. • Lord: in feudal Europe, a person who controlled land could therefore 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 received a grant of land from a lord in exchange for a pledge of loyalty and services.

• Knight: in medieval Europe, an armored warrior who fought on horseback. • Serf: a medieval peasant legally bound to live on a lord’s estate. • Manor: a lord’s estate in feudal Europe. • Tithe: a family’s payment of one-tenth of its income to a church.

• Clergy: a body of officials who perform religious services—such as priests, ministers, or 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 a Christian church. • Holy Roman Empire: an empire established in Europe in the 10 th century AD , originally consisting mainly of lands in what is now Germany and Italy. • Lay Investiture: the appointment of religious officials by kings or nobles.