Please write two meaningful sentences that are related to each of the following terms. One can be a definition and the other an example or two of the terms relevance from the text. This discipline insures that you have improved comprehension and command of the material. (Remember to double space between terms for easier viewing).

*peasant- Most of the peasants on a manor were serfs. They were bound to their land.

*usury- Lending money at interest. The clergy believed the profits that the bankers made were immoral.

*capital- Money for investment. The capital spurred the growth of banking houses.

*tithe- The Church required all Christians to pay a tithe. The tithe was a tax equal to one-tenth of their income.

*fief- A fief was land that was by the Lord to the vassal. The fief was usually a large estate that ranged from a few acres to hundreds of square miles.

*chivalry- A code of conduct between the knights. It required that all knights had to be loyal to the army and brave, and it also was a code of conduct that kept knights from attacking other knights until they had their helmets and armor on.

*charter- A written document that set out the rights and privelages of the town. Merchants paid the king a large amount of money for the charter.

*troubador- Wandering poets who adopted chivalry. Their love songs praised perfection, beauty, and the wit of women.

*manor economy- The manor had many different functions. It usually was a self-sufficient world with a bunch of one rooom huts. Peasants usually produced everything that was needed.

*how monks and nuns lived- They lived in poverty their whole lives. They had to take an oath of poverty because of the Benedictine Rule.

*Why was church reform desired?- Church reform was desired because many of the monks and nuns were not living up to their oaths. Also married priests gave more time to their families than to their church duties.

*new agricultural technologies- There were many new agricultural technologies during the Agricultural Revolution. One of the inventions was a new harness for the horses, this allowed a greater production.

*defense of castles (moats, etc)- Castles were fortified by a keep, whoch was a wooden tower, and a ringed fence. Castle dwellers stored food and water in case there was an attack on the castle.

*Battle of Tours- Battle in 732, where Frankish warriors led by Charles Martel defeated a Muslim army. Christians viewwed the victory as a sign that god was on their side.

*vassals- The vassals were lesser lords. They were given lands by the greater lords, and in exchange they pledged service and loyalty to him.

*peasants- Peasants had very little power in the medieval Europe. They were lower than the kings, nobles, and the Church.

*knights- A knight was a mounted warrior. Boys would train to become knights from the age of 7 and then would finish at the age of 21.

*lords- Lords were next below the monarch. They were dukes and counts and they held the largest fiefs.

*why did the church have great power over the people?- The church had great power over the people because the Church collected taxes from the people and had their own army. They also battled with the monarchs for power.

*Cluniac reforms-Compromise, in which the emperor grants land to bishop. Then the Pope chooses bishops and gives them spiritual powe.

*three field system- System of government. The system consisted of three different fields.

*merchant guilds- Dominated the life in medieval towns. They passed laws and, and other important decisions.

*clergy- The clergy was a group of people who decided things. The clergy was usually made up of normal people.

*nobles- Had as much power as the king. They even have their own army, taxes, and their own courts.

*Charlemagne- Stood over 6 feet tall in a time when most people were about 5 foot 7. Stressed literacy even though he couldn't read, he thought that literacy was the most important for the future.

*Leif Erikson- Landed in present-day Canada. Many people believe he was the first person to reacht the "America's".

*serf- Most of the peasants on the manor. They were bound to the land, and they could not leave th emanor without the permission of the lords.

*excommunication- People who refused to obey the church were ecavated from it. Excommunication was the most sever penalty because excommunicated people could not receive sacraments.

*steel plow- An invention during the Agricultural Revolution. It helped horses while they were plowing and it greatly increased production of crops.

*feudal system- Consisted of different branches. At the top there was the monarch, then there were the higher and lower lords, after that there were the knights, andlast were the peasants.

*Black Death- which regions most devastated?% population died? result?- The black death killed about 1 in every 3 people. It spread across Europe, Asia and North Africa. The result was a great loss of life, and a huge hit to the economy.

*Magna Carta- Document that made sure that kings could not abise their power. This document helped lead to democracy.

*Concordat of Worms- Stopped a war that had gone on for over 50 years. It allowed the church to elect bishops, but it let the emperor invest them with fiefs.

*Chief goal of/ and result of the Crusades- The chief goal of the Crusades was a religious battle to take Jerusalem. After the crusades were done the Muslims came out with Jerusalem.

*Reconquista- Medieval conquest of the Iberian peninsula by Muslim forces started the Reconquista. The christians took the Muslim city of Toledo in the reconquista.

*early jury system-The early jury system was developed under the rule of Henry II. They determined which case should be brought to trial.

*conflict between emperors and popes- The emporers and popes fought over who should be able to decide who were bishops. It eventually ended with the Concordat of Worms.

Short Answer

A. 5 reasons late Middle Ages was a time of decline.- The Middle Ages was a time of decline because none of the systems of rule lasted very long. Also because the church held a high amount of power. Another reason would be because the major event was the Agricultural Revolution. Furthermore, there were many changes going on, and nothing was too interesting. Finally, because of all the fighting between the pope and the Church.

B. 3 long term effects of the crusades- 3 long term effects of the Crusades are the increased trading that went on. Also the feudal rulers got more power. And lastly, the crusades further increased the need of growth in ecnomy.