Lesson 4: The Development of Feudalism in Western Europe

Key Idea

By the 400s CE, the huge Roman Empire was starting to crack from the inside. Leaders constantly fought for control, which made the government weak and unstable. The empire also had serious money problems, and life was difficult for many of its people.

At the same time, groups from outside the empire repeatedly attacked its long frontiers. The Roman army was stretched too thin to defend all its territory. This chaos led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, when the last emperor was overthrown. Without a strong, central government, Europe broke apart into smaller kingdoms.

Key Idea

After the Roman Empire fell, a powerful king named Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, built a huge new empire in Western Europe. He was a skilled military leader who conquered many different lands and peoples.

To rule this vast territory, Charlemagne created an organized government. He appointed nobles to manage local areas but sent his own officials to ensure they ruled fairly. He also promoted education and worked closely with the Church, using Christianity to help unify the diverse groups within his kingdom.

Following the collapse of the Roman Empire and the invasions of the Vikings, Magyars, and Muslims, kings could no longer defend their lands. A decentralized political system called Feudalism emerged to provide protection. It was structured like a pyramid based on the exchange of land for Loyalty.

At the top was the monarch. To raise an army, the king granted large estates called Fiefs to powerful nobles. In exchange, these nobles became Vassals, swearing a sacred oath of Homage to protect the king. These powerful lords then divided their land among lesser lords, creating a complex web of loyalty and obligation that held society together.

Key Idea

In the often-violent world of the Middle Ages, lords relied on professional warriors for protection. Noble boys began training at a young age to become knights, who were elite soldiers fighting on horseback. Their primary duty was to serve their lord in battle and defend his lands.

A knight was expected to be more than just a skilled fighter. He had to follow a code of conduct called chivalry. This code demanded that a knight be brave, loyal to his lord, and fair to his enemies. It also called on him to protect the weak and treat noblewomen with courtesy. A knight was meant to be a model of both strength and honor.