As towns formed and trade grew, feudalism began to decline in Europe. Nobles established towns and granted charters to townspeople, allowing self-governance while collecting taxes. Strong centralized monarchies also developed, like those of William the Conqueror and Henry II in England and Hugh Capet and Phillip II in France, reducing the power of nobles. In England, common law was established under Henry II and limitations on the monarchy through documents like the Magna Carta and the rise of Parliament under Edward I.

1. Decline of Feudalism
People continued to live on land
controlled by nobles, more and more
were moving to town.
Towns began to dominate the land

2. Why did towns start forming?
1. Europe was growing
2. The growth of trade
3. They were places of opportunity

4. • Nobles often owned the towns or controlled
the land they were on
• He would give a town charter
– A legal document that listed the privileges of the
townspeople
– They still paid taxes to the lord
– Allowed to govern themselves

6. Development of Strong Monarchies
ENGLAND
• England was conquered by William the
Conqueror in 1066
• He established the royal dynasty the Normans
• His grandson Henry II strengthened this
dynasty

7. William the Conqueror

8. Henry II

9. FRANCE
• Hugh Capet founded a new royal line in France
called the Capetians
• Phillip II seized much of the English land for
France
• Phillip II also started using bailiffs who went and
collected taxes for the crown
• The Capetians were successful because each ruler
was able to pass the crown down to a son

10. Hugh Capet

11. Phillip II

12. English Legal Practices
• Today’s trial by jury came from medieval
Europe
– In medieval England the jury provided the
evidence and the judge would determine if guilty
– In America, the jury hears the evidence and
decides if guilty
• Henry II set up common law which was
uniform laws for all of England

13. • England set limits on the power of the king
• The document is called the Magna Carta, which
means “Great Charter”
• During Edward I Parliament was set up
– Started out as advisors to the king
– House of Lords were the nobles
– House of Commons were the knights and leading
citizens
– Parliament later could approve new taxes this power
was called “power of the purse”

14. King John
signing the
Magna Carta

15. Edward I