Feudalism&society

Western Europe

Central government broke down and trade was disrupted

Cities were abandoned and population centers shifted to rural areas.

Christianity remained a major unifying force throughout most of Western Europe. Christianity spread to the Germanic tribes.

Feudalism in Medieval Europe

Causes: Invasions and attacks disrupted

agriculture and trade, as well as manufacturing.

Outside Invasions

FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe

Causes: Without a central government,

there was no protection from invasion or attack and trade was disrupted.

Those with land (wealth) built fortified homes (castle) and hired their own militia as people fled cities.


Large landowners gave land to their warriors as payment for loyalty and service.

The person who received the land was called a vassal and the piece of land was called a fief or feud the person giving the land was the lord.


Over time, landowners and their warriors (knights) became the nobility –inherited position.

Nobleman=Warrior. The RC Church’s position

strengthened and clergy became its own class.

90% or more of the population were urban or rural workers.


Social Class System- –Nobility (those who fought)–Clergy (those who were

supported by the Church)–Peasants (those who worked)

–Serfs, Merchants, Craftsmen

King

Nobles

Knights

Peasants

Grants land to

Grants land to

Grants land to

Provide food and services

Provide protection and

military service

Provide money and

knights


Results: W. Europe was divided into local

political territories without a strong central government and each territory was broken into self-sufficient manors (or estates).

One’s social class was basically inherited.


Feudalism was the political system

and

Manorialism was the economic system

Manorialism

By the 1000s ce, the Byzantine Empire was losing territory to the Islamic Turks & weak states in Western Europe were forming.

CRUSADES

Feudalism&society

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