development of feudalism in the middle ages

These provided much more security for medieval Europe, allowing it to grow and prosper.Īs Europe continued to flourish, so did its social structure. Greater promises of land and power, across larger scales of people, were given in exchange for promises of knights during times of war. Without much protection for property and population, Europe had to delve deeper into feudalism. However, Western Europe was threatened by many different groups, such as the Vikings, the Muslims, and the Magyars. Even though rulers after his death were much weaker than Charlemagne, they still paved the way to feudalism by continuing to grant land. Being closely associated with the Catholic pope allowed Charlemagne to have religious power, and when he was crowned as emperor of Holy Rome, feudalism began to flourish. In addition, he continued the Frank tradition of rewarding knights with land and privileges in return for their loyalty and service. Ruling for forty years, Charlemagne unified much of Christian Europe into a single empire. Then, in 768 C.E., another man, called Charlemagne ('Charles the Great'), took over as king.

These men wore heavy armor and rode on horseback into battle, and when assembled into their cohorts they were an adroit group.

This group, unlike many before them, grew to be formidable enemies because of their newly-developed type of warfare - the knight. Ruling in 481 C.E., he was part of a powerful group called the Franks. One of the first rulers of the early Middle Ages was a man named Clovis. During the early days of the medieval time period, things were still falling into place.

Development of feudalism in the middle ages