4. Western Europe after the fall of the
Roman Empire
Central government
broke down and
agriculture and trade
was disrupted
Cities were
abandoned and
population centers
shifted to rural areas.
6. Causes:
Invasions and attacks
– Germanic tribes
– Vikings
– Muslims
– Huns & Magyars
disrupted agriculture and trade, as well
as manufacturing.
7. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe
Those with land (wealth) built fortified
homes (castle) and “hired” their own
militia as people fled cities.
(Like China after the fall of the Han
Empire.)
8. Feudalism
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.
9. New Social Class in Medieval
Europe
Slavery became less common as
serfdom emerged –
– Serfs are peasants who cannot leave
the land of their Lord and owe certain
obligations to their Lord.
10. Is SERFDOM slavery?
Serf’s can’t leave the land, their children
will also be serfs, they have to give
certain goods and work at certain times
for the Lord (or they will be “punished”).
BUT, they can’t be sold, they have to be
protected, and they are given a small plot
of land to be self-sufficient.
11. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe
Feudalism was the political system &
the economic system as W Europe
was divided into small regional
territories and each territory was
broken into self-sufficient manors (or
estates).
12. King
Nobles
Knights
Peasants
Grants land
to
Grants land
to
Grants land
to
Provide
money and
knights
Provide
protection and
military
service
Provide food
and services
13. CULTURE in Medieval Europe
Christianity remained a major
unifying force throughout most of
Western Europe. Christianity spread
to the Germanic tribes.
The Roman Catholic Church’s
position strengthened and clergy
became its own class.
14. SOCIAL CLASSES in
FEUDALISM
Social Class System-
– Nobility (those who fought)
– Clergy (those who were supported by
the Church)
–Peasants (those who worked),
merchants and craftsmen
– SERFS (same as peasants?)
