"loosely organized system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other support to a greater lord."
Which then caused political turmoil.
Feudalism's relationships between social classes were centered around land
ownership.
This land given in exchange for services was called a fief.
Feudalism was an appropriate form of Government
for the time, after Europe was experiencing political turmoil and constant warfare. However, it
did not last, and was not a reliable system that
any empire could successful progress from.
Original Feuds
To Conclude..
- After the Treaty of Verdun, Charlemagne's feuding sons broke up the empire significantly.
Invaders Attack Western Europe
Feudalism in Europe
Aftermath
After feudalism declines in Europe,
ruling and taxing from a monarch
becomes the normal form of
central government.
Origin of Feudalism
Due to the political unrest and constant attacks in Western Europe, a feudal system appeared after the current systems failed to effectively rule the Empire.
Feudalism:
A political and economic system based on personal loyalty
Organization
Decline
- King- owned and controlled land
- Noble (powerful vassals)- given land by king, after promising to protect and be loyal to him
- Vassals (knights)- less important military men
who the King would also grant land to
Feudalism collapsed because it was built upon relationships. When these collapsed, such as the Nobles beginning to lose their King's land to foreigners, the system began to crumble.
- Serfs (peasants)- worked the land
Other factors also had an impact on Feudalism's demise, such as the Black Plague reaching and begining to devastate Europe.