Norman England - Key Vocabulary

Question 1

Chivalry

Answer 1

A code of behaviour for medieval knights, emphasising bravery and good manners

Question 2

Croft

Answer 2

An area of land surrounding a peasant’s dwelling, used to grow crops or keep livestock

Question 3

Demesne

Answer 3

Land kept by a lord, which peasants were obliged to farm on his behalf

Question 4

Baron

Answer 4

The highest rank of medieval society, ruling land directly on behalf of the king

Question 5

Bayeux

Answer 5

Tapestry A 70-metre long embroidered cloth depicting William of Normandy’s conquest of England

Question 6

Bishop

Answer 6

A Christian clergyman with authority over a large number of priests and churches

Question 7

Manor

Answer 7

The house at the centre of a medieval lord’s

Question 8

Conquest

Answer 8

Taking control of a place or people through military force

Question 9

Disembowel

Answer 9

To cut someone open and remove their internal organs

Question 10

Domesday Book

Answer 10

A book commissioned by William the Conqueror detailing the possessions of every settlement in England

Question 11

Exile

Answer 11

Being forced to live outside your native country, typically for political reasons

Question 12

Pottage

Answer 12

A stew of vegetables and grains, eaten by peasants for their main meal

Question 13

Fealty

Answer 13

A pledge of loyalty from a feudal vassal to their lord

Question 14

Feudal system

Answer 14

The structure of medieval society, where land was exchanged for service and loyalty

Question 15

Heir

Answer 15

A person set to inherit property or a title, often used to mean next in line to the throne

Question 16

Hereditary

Answer 16

Passed through a family, from parents to their children

Question 17

Hierarchy

Answer 17

A form of social organisation where people are ranked according to status or power

Question 18

Homage

Answer 18

The practice of giving an annual payment to your Lord to show that you are their vassal

Question 19

Huscarls

Answer 19

The professional bodyguard of Anglo-Saxon kings

Question 20

Illegitimate

Answer 20

Not recognised as lawful; once used to describe someone born of unmarried parents

Question 21

Knights

Answer 21

Soldiers on horseback who belonged to the nobility

Question 22

Lord

Answer 22

A general term for a medieval landholder, or a member of the peerage today

Question 23

Monarch

Answer 23

A royal head of state; can be a king, queen or emperor

Question 24

Strip farming

Answer 24

The division of large fields into many narrow strips worked by different peasants

Question 25

Steward

Answer 25

Servant who looked after the lord's manor on his behalf.

Question 26

Motte-and-bailey castle

Answer 26

A simple fortification with an artificial hill and a defensive courtyard

Question 27

Noble

Answer 27

Member of the nobility, with land and titles that pass through the generations

Question 28

Normans

Answer 28

People from a region in northern France, who were descended from Viking invaders

Question 29

Oath

Answer 29

A solemn promise, often said to be witnessed by God

Question 30

Omen

Answer 30

An event that is thought to foretell the future, perhaps as a message from God

Question 31

Peasant

Answer 31

The lowest member of medieval society, usually a farm labourer

Question 32

Royal blood

Answer 32

Those who are blood relatives of a ruling monarch

Question 33

Subject

Answer 33

A member of a country or territory under the rule of a monarch

Question 34

Vassal

Answer 34

Anyone who was below you in medieval society, and had to call you ‘my lord’

Question 35

Tithe

Answer 35

A medieval tax, paying one-tenth of all farm produce to the Church

Question 36

Wattle and Daub

Answer 36

Woven sticks, covered in a mixture of mud, clay, animal dung and horsehair

Question 37

A code of behaviour for medieval knights, emphasising bravery and good manners

Answer 37

Chivalry

Question 38

An area of land surrounding a peasant's dwelling, used to grow crops or keep livestock

Answer 38

Croft

Question 39

Land kept by a lord, which peasants were obliged to farm on his behalf

Answer 39

Demesne

Question 40

The highest rank of medieval society, ruling land directly on behalf of the king

Answer 40

Baron

Question 41

Tapestry A 70-metre long embroidered cloth depicting William of Normandy's conquest of England

Answer 41

Bayeux

Question 42

A Christian clergyman with authority over a large number of priests and churches

Answer 42

Bishop

Question 43

The house at the centre of a medieval lord's

Answer 43

Manor

Question 44

Taking control of a place or people through military force

Answer 44

Conquest

Question 45

To cut someone open and remove their internal organs

Answer 45

Disembowel

Question 46

A book commissioned by William the Conqueror detailing the possessions of every settlement in England

Answer 46

Domesday Book

Question 47

Being forced to live outside your native country, typically for political reasons

Answer 47

Exile

Question 48

A stew of vegetables and grains, eaten by peasants for their main meal

Answer 48

Pottage

Question 49

A pledge of loyalty from a feudal vassal to their lord

Answer 49

Fealty

Question 50

The structure of medieval society, where land was exchanged for service and loyalty

Answer 50

Feudal system

Question 51

A person set to inherit property or a title, often used to mean next in line to the throne

Answer 51

Heir

Question 52

Passed through a family, from parents to their children

Answer 52

Hereditary

Question 53

A form of social organisation where people are ranked according to status or power

Answer 53

Hierarchy

Question 54

The practice of giving an annual payment to your Lord to show that you are their vassal

Answer 54

Homage

Question 55

The professional bodyguard of Anglo-Saxon kings

Answer 55

Huscarls

Question 56

Not recognised as lawful; once used to describe someone born of unmarried parents

Answer 56

Illegitimate

Question 57

Soldiers on horseback who belonged to the nobility

Answer 57

Knights

Question 58

A general term for a medieval landholder, or a member of the peerage today

Answer 58

Lord

Question 59

A royal head of state; can be a king, queen or emperor

Answer 59

Monarch

Question 60

The division of large fields into many narrow strips worked by different peasants

Answer 60

Strip farming

Question 61

Servant who looked after the lord's manor on his behalf.

Answer 61

Steward

Question 62

A simple fortification with an artificial hill and a defensive courtyard

Answer 62

Motte-and-bailey castle

Question 63

Member of the nobility, with land and titles that pass through the generations

Answer 63

Noble

Question 64

People from a region in northern France, who were descended from Viking invaders

Answer 64

Normans

Question 65

A solemn promise, often said to be witnessed by God

Answer 65

Oath

Question 66

An event that is thought to foretell the future, perhaps as a message from God

Answer 66

Omen

Question 67

The lowest member of medieval society, usually a farm labourer

Answer 67

Peasant

Question 68

Those who are blood relatives of a ruling monarch

Answer 68

Royal blood

Question 69

A member of a country or territory under the rule of a monarch

Answer 69

Subject

Question 70

Anyone who was below you in medieval society, and had to call you ‘my lord’

Answer 70

Vassal

Question 71

A medieval tax, paying one-tenth of all farm produce to the Church

Answer 71

Tithe

Question 72

Woven sticks, covered in a mixture of mud, clay, animal dung and horsehair

Answer 72

Wattle and Daub