Western European Feudalism

Feudalism first emerged in Europe around 800 C.E. from the leftovers of the Western Roman Empire ("Feudalism European History AP World History," n.d.). Feudalism is a form of political and social organization typical of Western Europe (“Feudalism,” n.d.). The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 C.E. after years of instability. Feudalism was created because the people of Western Europe needed some stable form of political system and protection after the chaos of the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Feudalism proved to be highly self-sufficient. In the feudal system, a social hierarchy divided the people of the land. There were kings, nobles and lords, vassals, and serfs. The kings were obviously the highest class, while the serfs were the lowest class of people who had

Although the Church did not follow the same hierarchal system as the outside, it did have a system of its own that could be considered feudal in nature (“Feudalism,” n.d.). The Church had great influence over the people of all classes because every person, no matter the status, looked towards God when they need help ("Feudalism European History AP World History," n.d.). That is one reason why many nobles gifted large areas of land to the Church. The land was held by either the monasteries, the dignitaries of the Church, or by the Church itself. These territories had feudal responsibilities, and therefore, included the clergy as part of the feudal system (“Feudalism,” n.d.). Feudalism spread through Europe progressively. Its popularity allowed it to go from France to Spain, England, and eventually Germany along with Eastern Europe (“Feudalism,” n.d.). There were elements of feudalism already present in some of these areas, but they were gradually officially implemented. An example is seen in England where most elements of feudalism already existed, but the Frankish form of feudalism wasn’t imposed until after 1066 by William I (“Feudalism,”