The Middle Ages Flashcards
(30 cards)
Peasant
An old term for farmer
Feudal system
This is how the land was owned and society was organised in the Middle Ages
Serf
A person who belonged to The Lord and farmed his land
Freeman
A man who paid rent and tax to The Lord but could travel as he pleased
Demesne
Percentage of the land that the king kept to himself
Vassels
The name given to the kings followers- they could be Lords, Bishops or Abbots.
Knights
Soldiers who rode on horseback
Medieval Manor
The house and village where The Lord lived
Open-field system
The fields where the the crops were grown was divided into three open fields, each field was divided into long strips which each peasant farmed from
Wimple
A headdress worn by rich women
Pottage
A mixture of vegetable soup and porridge
Bailiff
A person appointed by a Lord to keep law and order in a manor
Ducking stool
A seat ducked into a river or lake to punish women for gossiping
Tithe
A yearly tax donated to the priest
Motte and bailey
Motte and bailey castles were the first castles built. They were made of wood and simple to build
Keep
The was the main building in the castle where The Lord, the lady, their family and some soldiers lived
Battlements
The battlements were at the top of the keep, sentries watched for enemies on top of them
Turrets
Turrets were strong towers along the walls
Drawbridge
The drawbridge was a wooden bridge which could be raised and lowered
Portcullis
The portcullis is an iron grill in front of the castle gate for protection
Forge
The place where a blacksmith works
Ballista
A giant crossbow used as artillery for a siege
Solar
The room of the castle witch the lady used for embroiding
Dowry
Money or goods that a woman gave to her husband when they got married
