The historical period from around 500 A.D. up to around 1450 A.D. between the fall of Rome and the birth of the Renaissance
term for the roughly 200-year period in Greek history that followed the final collapse of the Mycenaean civilization in the 12th century BC
king of the Franks who unified Gaul and established his capital at Paris and founded the Frankish monarchy
early teaching of the church that was heretical by saying that Jesus was not God but created by God
a religious community of men who have given up their possessions to devote themselves to a life of prayer and worship; religious communities isolated from the rest of society
the Frankish commander for the battle of Tours. He defeated the Muslimsin the Battle of Tours, allowing Christianity to survive throughout the Dark Ages. He in a way started Feudalism by giving land to his knights that served for him.
Battle of Tours
Battle in 732 in which the Christian Franks led by Charles Martel defeated Muslim armies and stopped the Muslim advance into Europe
Defeats the Lombards in battle and gives the conquered land to the Pope. (Papal State), Charles Martel's son and first king to have the pope's blessing
King of the Franks who conquered much of Western Europe, great patron of literature and learning
Relating to the Frankish dynasty, founded by Charlemagne's father, that ruled in western Europe from 750 to 987.
The Viking explorer believed to be the first European to reach the New World (in about 1000 AD).
a political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to a king in return for loyalty and military service
in the middle ages, a noble who usually was given a fief by his lord in exchange for loyalty, a knight who promised to support a lord in exchange for land
In medieval Europe, a large, self-sufficient landholding consisting of the lord's residence (manor house), outbuildings, peasant village, and surrounding land.
King of England who raised taxes and punished his enemies without a trial. He is best known for being forced to sign the Magna Carta.
the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215
The Hundred Years War
war between France and England for the French throne that continued from 1337 to 1453, and introduced the use of new weapons
Joan of Arc
French heroine and military leader inspired by religious visions to organize French resistance to the English and to have Charles VII crowned king
a series of military expeditions in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries by Westrn European Christians to reclain control of the Holy Lands from the Muslims
states whose populations share a sense of national identity, usually including a language and culture
a period of European history, lasting from about 1300 to 1600, during which renewed interest in classical culture led to far-reaching changes in art, learning and views of the world
Italian Renaissance artist that painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculpted the statue of David.
Statue of David
the first European sculpture of a large, free standing male nude since ancient times, Michelangelo. (1501. Renaissance.)
A Catholic church in Vatican City, Italy. Its ceiling was painted by the Renaissance artist Michelangelo.
A painting by Leonardo da Vinci of a woman with a mysterious smile. It is now of the most readily recognized paintings in the world.
A mechanical device for transferring text or graphics from a woodblock or type to paper using ink. Presses using movable type first appeared in Europe in about 1450. See also movable type.
"Father of Humanism." studied classical Greek and Latin. introduced emotion in "Sonnets to Laura"
An African state that developed along the upper reaches of the Nile c. 100 B.C.E.; conquered Egypt and ruled it for several centuries.
Axumite ruler, invaded and conquered Kush around A.D. 350; burned Meroe to the ground; made Christianity official religion of Aksum
Gold and salt made up trade and wealth in the African kingdoms because the Europeans wanted gold, and the Africans needed salt
the ancient indigenous religion of Japan lacking formal dogma; characterized by the veneration of nature spirits and ancestors
school of Mahayana Buddhism asserting that enlightenment can come through meditation and intuition rather than faith
"The way of Nature"- retreat to nature, keeping life simple, sticking to the essentials, advancing science and technology
a member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between AD 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy
group from the north that invaded central Mexico; were first wandering warriors; built their capital city at Tenochtitlan; increased their power until they dominated central Mexico; built causeways, pyramids, marketplaces, and palaces; adopted many customs from other cultures; used chinamapas for farming; militaristic society; known for human sacrifice and dedication to the sun god; ended when conquered by Spanish explorers in the 1500s
a member of the small group of Quechuan people living in the Cuzco valley in Peru who established hegemony over their neighbors to create the great Inca empire that lasted from about 1100 until the Spanish conquest in the early 1530s
originally a Mayan city, conquered by the Toltecs in 1000 and ruled by Toltec dynasties
This was a major city in the Inca Empire in high altitude. The city was built around 1450 and was discovered only in 1911. It is believed to have been a major religious center.