Flashcards: Medieval Society, Climate, and Disease — 24 cards

Medieval three-field system — purpose?

Crop rotation to increase land productivity.

Manorial system — role?

Structured rural economy with peasants working for lords.

Heavy plow — function?

Turn heavy, clay-rich soils efficiently.

Water mill — benefit?

Improved grain grinding and farm productivity.

Open-field system — description?

Shared, fenced-in land divided into strips.

Fallow land — purpose?

Restores soil nutrients for future crops.

Climate impact — Little Ice Age?

Lower temperatures damaged crops, caused famines.

Soil exhaustion — cause?

Overuse of land depleting nutrients.

Famine — result?

Widespread hunger and weakened populations.

Black Death — agent?

Yersinia pestis bacteria.

Black Death — transmission?

Fleas on rats and respiratory droplets.

Trade routes — role in disease?

Facilitated rapid spread of plague.

Rats and fleas — significance?

Primary vectors for transmitting plague.

Urban hygiene — impact?

Poor sanitation worsened disease spread.

Peasant revolts — cause?

Economic hardship and social injustice.

Magna Carta — significance?

Limited royal power, established legal rights.

Limited monarchy — definition?

Royal authority constrained by law.

Maya calendar — components?

Tzolk'in (260 days), Haab' (365 days).

Maya zero — importance?

Enabled advanced calculations and record-keeping.

Maya astronomy — purpose?

Predict celestial events, reinforce religion.

Maya Long Count — function?

Track long periods, record history.

Maya religion — role?

Legitimized rulers, dictated rituals and calendar.

Maya power — through?

Calendar, astronomy, and divine authority.

Trade routes — effect?

Spread culture and diseases across continents.