After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, Western Europe transitioned to a fragmented, decentralized feudal system. Power was held by local lords and kings had loose control over independent manors and estates. Society was rural, agrarian, and organized around a hierarchy with nobles, clergy, and peasants. The feudal system provided military protection and governance in exchange for taxes and services from the lower classes. This political and economic system of feudalism and manorialism dominated Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

1. Western Europe 500 -1400
Middle Ages
Medieval Europe
The Dark Ages?

2. Western Europe
FEUDALISM in Western Europe began
after the fall of the Roman Empire
(the Western part in 476 ce.)
 Fragmented and decentralized
society
 1000s of independent, self-sufficient,
and largely isolated estates or
manors

4. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe Central government ended and trade
was disrupted (barter system)
 Cities were nearly abandoned and
population centers shifted to rural
areas.
 Manorialism
 Warfare, disease, no “police” force,
invasions

5. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe
Continuities
Christianity remained a unifying force
throughout most of Western Europe.
Christianity spread to the Germanic
tribes.
Roman “things” and ideas remained
popular.

6. FEUDALISM in Western Europe
 Those with land
(wealth) built fortified
homes (castle) and had
their own militias.
 These large
landowners gave
sections of land to their
warriors as payment for
loyalty and service.

9.  Overtime, this
FEUDAL SYSTEM
developed with a Great
Lord or King at the top
of the political structure
with local lords loosely
connected to him.

10. For example:
 the Duke of
Champagne was a
vassal to the King
of France. But the
Duke of
Champagne was
also a lord who
gave land to his
lead warriors
(Counts or Barons,
etc.) who had their
own militaries as
well.

11. Western Europe – Social Classes
Social Class System-
 Nobility
– warriors & their families
– Great Lords to knights
 Clergy
– those who were supported by the
Church
 Peasants
– those who worked
– Farm workers, merchants, artisans
– Serfs – “tied” to the land and
required to work for the Lord

12. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe
 The Lord was the political
leader, justice system, and
supported the Church
officials in the territory
he controlled.
 The lower classes paid taxes
to the lord in crops, food,
work, etc.

13. FEUDALISM in Medieval Europe
Feudalism was the political
system
and
Manorialism was the economic
system
The economy was based on local
self-sufficiency and
agriculture.