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These kingdoms were often at war with one another. Many invading groups set up kingdoms throughout Western Europe. When Rome fell to invading barbarians in 476 C.E., Europe was left with no central government or system of defense. The rest of the continent was controlled by groups of people the Romans called “barbarians” because they did not follow Roman ways. Western Europe during the Middle Agesįor 500 years, much of Europe was part of the Roman Empire.
FEUDALISM IN THE MIDDLE AGES 6TH GRADE FREE
At the bottom of the system were serfs, peasants who were not free to leave the lord’s land without permission. Warriors fought on behalf of their lords. In return, they received protection from that lord.
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In the feudal system, people pledged loyalty to a lord-a ruler or powerful landholder. These challenges gave rise to the economic and political system historians call feudalism. They also needed to protect themselves from conquest by invading barbarians and neighboring kingdoms. People worked hard simply to survive and to have enough to eat. After the empire collapsed, life was dangerous and difficult in Western Europe. The Roman Empire had unified much of Europe for about 500 years. The Early Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome. The Late Middle Ages lasted from about 1300 to 1450. The High Middle Ages lasted from about 1000 to 1300. The Early Middle Ages lasted from about 476 to 1000 C.E. Historians divide the Middle Ages into three periods. 1310 / Wikimedia CommonsĮxploring the political and economic system that developed in Western Europe during the Middle Ages.
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Depiction of socage on the royal demesne in feudal England, c.
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