Medieval
Of knightly times
Medieval describes the Middle Ages, the period of European history roughly from the 5th to the 15th century—after the fall of Rome and before the Renaissance.
Medieval castles dot the countryside.
The word often suggests primitive or outdated conditions: The prison's medieval conditions shocked investigators.
In casual use, calling something medieval implies it's barbaric or hopelessly old-fashioned: Their attitudes toward women are positively medieval.
Decorative woven wall cloth
- illuminatedMade visible by light
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- heraldicOf coats of arms
stained glass · calligraphy · gilded · embroidery · fresco · reliquary · iconography · bestiary
Land-for-service social structure
- crusadesAggressive advocacy campaigns
- knightsTitled warriors on horseback
- serfsFeudal bound laborers
- peasantsLow-ranking agricultural workers
lords · vassals · fiefdom · monarchy · Christendom · Charlemagne · Plantagenet · Byzantium
Professional mutual-aid society
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- peasantryRural working class
chivalry · courtly · merchant · artisan · blacksmith · apothecary · scribe · friar
Hilted fighting blade
- armorProtective combat covering
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- longbowTall wooden archery weapon
- catapultSiege engine for launching
trebuchet · joust · tournament · chainmail · lance · shield · mace · crossbow
European cultural reawakening
- Dark AgesPost-Roman European decline
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- courtly loveChivalric romantic ideal
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
bard · folklore · legend · Arthurian · chivalric · falconry · hawking · jousting
Fortified medieval residence
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
- moatDefensive water ditch
turret · battlement · rampart · portcullis · keep · dungeon · cloister · buttress
tapestry
Decorative woven wall cloth
- illuminatedMade visible by light
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
heraldic · stained glass · calligraphy · gilded · embroidery · fresco · reliquary · iconography · bestiary · medallion
feudalism
Land-for-service social structure
peasants · lords · vassals · fiefdom · monarchy · Christendom · Charlemagne · Plantagenet · Byzantium · Carolingian
guild
Professional mutual-aid society
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
peasantry · chivalry · courtly · merchant · artisan · blacksmith · apothecary · scribe · friar · nun
sword
Hilted fighting blade
catapult · trebuchet · joust · tournament · chainmail · lance · shield · mace · crossbow · battering ram
Renaissance
European cultural reawakening
- Dark AgesPost-Roman European decline
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- courtly loveChivalric romantic ideal
minstrel · bard · folklore · legend · Arthurian · chivalric · falconry · hawking · jousting · feast
castle
Fortified medieval residence
- cathedralBishop's principal church
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- drawbridgeHinged castle entrance span
moat · turret · battlement · rampart · portcullis · keep · dungeon · cloister · buttress · gargoyle
- Historical AgesStone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Copper Age, Golden Age
- historical erasStone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Renaissance, Victorian era
- Fashion ErasVictorian era, Edwardian era, Elizabethan era, Georgian era, Baroque
- Music PeriodsBaroque, Renaissance, Contemporary, Expressionist
- timesecond, minute, hour, day, seconds
- design stylesart deco, Art Nouveau, art nouveau, Bauhaus, minimalism
Medievalmodern
Of recent times
contemporary · Renaissance · classical · ancient · antiquity
Medievalmodern
Of recent times
advanced · progressive · sophisticated · enlightened · cutting-edge
Medievaldemocratic
Government by the people
egalitarian · liberal · free · secular · constitutional
- medieval societyPre-modern European social structure
- medieval armorHistoric battle protection
- medieval folkloreTales from feudal times
- medieval peasant
- medieval knightsFeudal armored cavalry
- medieval castleFortified noble residence, Middle Ages