Medieval Times Test Questions – Flashcards
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100 Years War
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a war between England and France from 1337 to 1453. Finally France won.
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Apprentice
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a person who works for an expert in a trade or craft in return for training
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Archer
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a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow
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Aristocrat
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a member of a rich and powerful family
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Ballista
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engine resembling a crossbow, used in hurling missiles or large arrows
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Battering Ram
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a ram used to break down doors of fortified buildings/castles
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belt bag
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a small pouch (usually with a zipper) that attaches to a belt and is worn around the waist
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bill hook
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A medieval weapon used primarily by foot soldiers; looked like a spear with a hook on the opposing side of the spear; the hook was used to pull cavalrymen off of their horse in battle
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Bishop
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A church official who leads a large group of Christians in a particular region
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Black Death
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the epidemic form of bubonic plague experienced during the Middle Ages that killed millions of the people of Europe
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Bloodletting
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a common technique to cure the sick involving opening a vein or letting leeches suck out blood. Medieval doctors believed this helped restore balance in the body and spirit. Unfortunately it made many patients weaker.
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Buckler
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small round shield that would often have a metal protrusion on it for knocking an opponent down
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Castle
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a large building occupied by a vassal, a lord, or a king and fortified against attack
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Cathedral
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a large or important Christian church
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Cavalry
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soldiers on horseback
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Chain Mail
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(Middle Ages) flexible armor made of interlinked metal rings
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Chamber Pot
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a portable container or bucket in the Middle Ages used as a toilet
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Charlemagne
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king of the Franks, Charles the Great; united much of Europe under one kingdom during the Middle Ages
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Chivalry
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Code of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages
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Clergy
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Members of the church are referred to as this
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Coat of Arms
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a shield marked with designs of a particular family or group
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Constable
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person in charge of the castle when the lord and lady are away; a peace officer like a sheriff
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Crossbow
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a medieval weapon made up of a bow that was fixed across a wooden stock ( which had a groove to direct the arrow's flight) and operated by a trigger
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Crusades
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A series of military expeditions launched by Christian Europeans to win the Holy land back from Muslim control.
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Crux
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Latin word for cross
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Dark Ages
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refers to Europe in Middle Ages, lack of Latin literature, lack of written history, lack of respect for science, lack of respect for medicine, lack of material cultural achievements in general - Hint: the lightbulb had gone off all over Europe
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Spangen
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Medieval helmet
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Drawbridge
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a wooden bridge in a castle leading to a gateway, capable of being raised or lowered
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Dubbing
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special ceremony of becoming a knight, tapped both shoulders with a sword
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Epidemic
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a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease
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Excommunicate
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exclude from a church or a religious community, to declare that a person or group no longer belongs to a church; to kick out
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Feudalism
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a political and social system that developed during the Middle Ages; nobles offered protection and land in return for service; kings and queens at the top, nobles/ladies/lords/aristocrats next, vassals/knights next, and on the bottom were the peasants and serfs
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Folk Healer
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Medieval doctor that primarily depended upon cures based in nature, herbs, plants, etc
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Gauntlet
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a glove of armored leather that a knight would use in battle
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Gothic
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a style of architecture developed in northern France that spread throughout Europe between the 12th and 16th centuries; today we say that anyone that dresses in really dark colors is this
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Great Hall
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main eating and living area in most castles
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Greek Fire
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a chemical weapon; when sprayed or thrown into enemy ships, the liquid burst into flames setting ships on fire
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Guild
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A medieval organization of crafts workers or trades people.
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Gunpowder
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The formula, brought to China in the 400s or 500s, was first used to make fumigators to keep away insect pests and evil spirits. In later centuries it was used to make explosives and grenades and to propel cannonballs, shot, and bullets.
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Heretic
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a label that the church would give a person who the church thought was a witch/warlock/sorcerer; a person that holds religious beliefs in conflict with the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church; thank goodness for our First Amendment (Freedom of Religion)
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Holy Land
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Jerusalem and parts of the surrounding area where Jesus lived and taught; land fought over during the Crusades
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Jerusalem
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A city in the Holy Land, regarded as sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
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Jester
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a professional clown employed to entertain a king or nobleman in the middle ages
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Joan of Arc
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French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king; was later found guilty of heresy and burned at the stake; we read a story about her in class
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Jousting
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Fighting on horseback with lances, with the goal of knocking the opponent from his horse; one point for hitting your opponent in the midsection; two points for hitting opponent in the head; three points for knocking your opponent off his horse
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Knight
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originally a person of noble birth trained at warfare and chivalry; the medievall policeman or soldier
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Long Bow
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formidable weapon which the English archers carried. It was 6 ft long and fired 3x faster than a crossbow. Could pierce the armor of a knight.
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Nobles
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People of high birth, such as dukes and earls. They were the people who lived in the castles; in medieval times they would refer to a person of high birth as Lady such and such or Lord such and such
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Magna Carta
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Limited the power of the king! the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215, This document, signed by King John of England in 1215, is the cornerstone of English justice and law. It declared that the king and government were bound by the same laws as other citizens of England. It contained the antecedents of the ideas of due process and the right to a fair and speedy trial that are included in the protection offered by the U.S. Bill of Rights
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Maiden
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an unmarried girl in the middle ages was often referred to as this
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Manor
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A large estate, often including farms and a village, ruled by a lord.
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Medieval Barber
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A medieval type of doctor that specialized in cutting skin (surgery or bloodletting)
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Merchant
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someone who buys and sells goods for a living
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Moat
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a deep trench sometimes filled with water that surrounded a castle
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Monk
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a man who separates himself from ordinary human society in order to pursue a life of total dedication to God
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Nun
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a woman who has taken a sacred vow to devote her life to prayer and service to the church
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Morning Star
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weapon with a ball and spikes; any of a group of medieval club-like weapons which included one or more spikes. Each used, to varying degrees, a combination of blunt-force and puncture attack to kill or wound the enemy
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Murder Holes
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holes hidden above a castle's doors through which boiling hot liquids could be dumped, or rocks hurled down on invaders
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Page
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in medieval times a youth acting as a knight's attendant as the first stage in training for knighthood; usually about age 7
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Parliament
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type of government in England; AKA the representative assembly in England is called this
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Pope
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the head of the Roman Catholic Church
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Pope Urban II
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the specific pope who called for the first crusade (religious wars) to reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims
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Saladin
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The leader of the Muslims in the third crusade; he captured Jerusalem in 1187
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Vikings
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Invaders/sailors/warriors of Europe that came from northern Europe and Scandinavia; one major reason feudalism developed
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Scullion
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a kitchen servant employed to do menial tasks/jobs (especially washing) in a castle
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Self sufficient
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not needing anything from the outside world (you grow your own crops, own clothing, raised livestock)
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Serf
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(Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
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Siege
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Strategy for attacking a castle; could use starvation, psychological warfare, or siege weapons (i.e. catapult, towers, trebuchets)
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Squire
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the second stage to becoming a knight, at around teenhood, kinghts assistant, caring for horses, train with weapons, and go to battle
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Taster
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someone who samples food or drink for its quality; in medieval times this person usually sampled food for a noble, king, or queen
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Roman Catholic Church
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the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy
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Trebuchet
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war engine developed in the Middle Ages employing counterweights to allow missiles to be launched from great distances
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Troubador
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A poet or musician who traveled around and entertained people with songs about chivalry and courtly love.
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Vassal
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in the middle ages, a man who usually was given a fief (land) by his lord in exchange for loyalty; third from the top on the feudal pyramid
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Inquisition
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A Roman Catholic team for investigating and prosecuting charges of heresy - especially the one active in Spain during the 1400s; a very sad time in history for the Catholic Church
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King Arthur
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a legendary king of the Britons (possibly based on a historical figure in the 6th century but the story has been retold too many times to be absolutely sure if he really existed) Big Hint: said to have led the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot
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Robin Hood
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Legendary outlaw from northern England; led a band of merry men (fellow outlaws); he attacked and punished those who violated the social system and law. Robin and his merry men performed acts to reattribute justice. He symbolized the deep resentment of aristocratic corruption and abuse. He represented struggle against tyranny and oppression. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
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Middle Ages
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The historical time period from around 476 A.D. up to around 1450 A.D. between the fall of Rome and the birth of the Renaissance; This time period lasted for approximately (circa) 1000 years.
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Mr. Saeger
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Mad scientist that works at the end of the hall on team 7C
