Feudalism/Manorialism

A system of service in the Middle Ages. A Lord would control a large area. Vassals would serve the Lord and control one of the fiefdoms. The serfs would serve the vassals for protection.

Fief/FiefdomAn area which was controlled by a vassal. The fiefdoms would have a castle or mansion in the middle that the vassal lived in. It was surrounded by serf homes. The serf homes were surrounded by a city wall, and outside of the wall there were farmlands.

Roman Catholic ChurchAfter the Roman Empire fell, the Roman Catholic Church was the only stable institution left in Europe. During the Middle Ages it became very powerful and priests, bishops and popes became powerful men in government.

Monarchy

Lord

Vassal

Knight

Serfs

CrusadesIn 1095 the Christian Byzantines asked for help from Christians in Western Europe to take back Jerusalem, which had been conquered by the Muslim Turks. For several hundred years after, large armies of knights headed across Europe and into Asia to conquer the city. This led to much blood shed, but also cultural diffusion

Black PlagueA disease that killed two thirds of the European population starting in 1348. It began in Asia and came over on trade ships and the Silk Road. It led to the fall of Feudalism

Social Structure

When a nation, culture or region has a certain rigid system of power.