Middle Ages

The times between the fall of the Roman Empire in 500AD and the start of modern times (14th century)

Feudal System

How land was divided in the middle ages - organised society

Peasant

Common person who worked on the lord's land

Knight

A soldier that rode on horseback - most important soldier

Open field system

3 fields were divided amongst the peasants and crops were rotated across the 3 fields and changed each year

Motte and Bailey

A fortified courtyard overlooked by a wooden castle built on a mount

Keep

Main building in a castle

Turret

Strong towers along the walls

Portcullis

Iron grille that could be lowered in front of the castle gates

Stocks

Planks of wood with holes for the feet

Pillory

Wood with holes cut out for head and hands

Guild

Controlled the standards of craftsmanship

Apprentice

1st stage to become a craftsman. Lived with the master and family. Could not be paid.

Journeyman

After 7 years, craftsmen could get paid, could travel

Siege

Surrounding the castle and waiting for the people inside to starve or give up

Jousting

2 knights ride towards each other on either side of a tilt and try to knock the other off a horse using a joust

Bailiff

Someone employed by the lord to collect rent, taxes and enforce laws

Commons

Grassy area used to graze animals

Serf

Peasants who were not free and could be bought and sold

Tithe

Tax of 10% of peasants harvest to the church

Chivalry

Code of honour to stay loyal to the lord and protect the weak

Charter

Gave townspeople permission to run their own affairs and elect a council

Market Square

Where markets were held once a week for people to buy food

The Black Death

A plague that spread across Europe in the middle ages in the 14th century

Bloodletting

Where blood was drawn from the patient using a knife or leeches

Master Craftsman

Final craftsman stage. Work on a masterpiece, became master craftsman, joined a guild, opened a shop.