Middle Ages

Vocabulary
Chivalry

Definition: A code of behavior by which knights were expected to be brave, loyal,

and kind

Sentence: To live by the code of CHIVALRY, a knight had to be brave even in the
fiercest battles.
Feudalism

Definition: A system of government that developed in the Middle Ages in Europe

Sentence: Under the system of FEUDALISM, Kings and lords were at the top of
the social order and peasants were at the bottom.
Guild

Definition: A group of people with the same trade or craft

Sentence: During the Middle Ages, bakers, weavers, and shoemakers joined a
GUILD with others who shared the same craft or trade
Knight

Definition: An armored warrior who fought on horseback

Sentence: The young boy dreamed of becoming a KNIGHT dressed in armor and
riding into battle
Magna Carta

Definition: A list of political rights written by England’s nobles and signed by King
John

Sentence: When King John signed the MAGNA CARTA, he gave up some of his
power as King
Manor

Definition: A lord’s estate

Sentence: A MANOR included the lord’s castle or home, pastures, a village, and
farm fields.
Medieval

Definition: Having to do with the Middle Ages

Sentence: The time in history known as the Middle Ages is also called the
MEDIEVAL period.
Serf

Definition: a peasant farmer who was tied to the land (they stayed with the land
and worked for a lord)

Sentences: Life for a SERF was difficult and included long hours farming the land
on the Lord’s estate.
Parliament

Definition: A governing body made up of a group of representatives

Sentence: The new governing body called PARLIAMENT became an important

step toward representative government.
Vassal

Definition: A person who received land and protection from a lord in return for
loyalty

Sentence: In a special ceremony, a VASSAL pledged his loyalty to a Lord in

exchanged for land and protection