History Test 2/3/23 Flashcards
(35 cards)
Toll
A tax paid at the town gate, by anyone who wanted to sell goods in the town
Charter
A contract where the town was granted freedom to run its own affairs but had to pay taxes to the king. A Corporation was elected to run the town.
Curfew
At sundown people had to put out there fires because the houses were made of wood at they didn’t want them to catch fire
Pottage
Porrage mixed with vegetable stew that peasants ate
Fallow
The field that was left empty so that it could recover its soil.
Commons
It was the fourth large field used for grazing the animals that belonged to the peasants
Crop rotation
The crop planted in each field changed each year. In one field that planted wheat, in the second they planted barley and oats and the third field was left fallow
Feudalism
The system of land ownership where rulers divided land among their followers in return for loyalty taxes
Serf
A serf was a type of peasant. Serfs essentially belonged to the lords and had to work on the lords land
Freeman
A freeman was a type of peasant. A serf would become a freeman if they ran away and didn’t get caught for a year and a day.
Fief
Land that nobles or vassals were given
Vassals
Followers of rulers who divided land among them in return for loyalty and taxes
Oath of fealty
Swore it to the king, promising to fight for him, provide him with troops and pay hin taxes.
Features of a castle
Drawbridge, keep, tower/turret, Bailey, moat, porticullis, curtain wall, battlements
Dowry
Sum of money or land paid to the groom
Page stage
Stage 1 of becoming a knight. At the age of 7 a boy would be send to live with the family of another lord. He would learn to ride a horse, use a sword, sing and dance. He was taught manners and household chores by the lady of the castle.
Squire stage
At the age of 14 the boy began learning to fight on horseback. He would help the lord in battle by looking after his horse and weapons and help the lord dress for tournaments and battles .
Knight stage
At the age of 21 the boys would be allowed to become a knight. He spent the night before the ceremony in prayer in the chapel. Then dresses in a white robe and full armour, he took part in the ceremony of dubbing. He swore the oath of chivalry and the lord touched him on the shoulders with a sword and told him arise, sir knight.
Dubbing
A ceremony boys took part in when they were becoming a knight.
Oath of chivalry
To stay loyal to his lord, protect the poor and weak and be brave in battle.
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government.
Guild
The craftsmen of each town formed guilds, organisations of people who worked in the same trade Guilds charged a fee for membership. A guild set standards for the quality of members’ work (you could be fined for substandard work), set prices and wages, decided who could trade in the town and cared for old and sick members and for the families of dead members.
Apprentice
Boys usually took up their fathers trade. Having begun in his fathers workshop, a boy became an apprentice at around 12. He lived with a master craftsman, slept in the workshop, received no pay and was often treated harshly.
Journeyman
After about 7 years an apprentice would become a journeyman and was treated more fairly and got paid for his work and could travel to different workshops and towns for work and experience. Eventually he would apply to become a master craftsman. He created a masterpiece and would be judged on it by the guild who decided if it was good enough. If he was accepted he could open his own workshop and train apprentices and sell him work.
