The Decline of FeudalismStephanie Ohtola7th Grade Social Studies
World Studies: Feudalism and TransitionsFeudalism developed as a political system based on
small local units controlled by lords bound by an oath of loyalty to a monarch. The decline of feudalism in
Europe resulted from interactions between the Muslim world and European states. These
interactions influenced the rise of new ideas and institutions.
Causes• Political–Magna Carta– Hundred Year’s War– Peasants’ Revolt
• Cultural–Muslim influence– Crusades
• Social– Bubonic plague
Magna Carta• In the year 1199, John became the king
of England. Immediately, he created many enemies.– CATHOLIC CHURCH: Regularly fought with
clergy and imposed high taxes on church property
–NOBLES: Heavily taxed barons and made arrests without lawful judgement
– FOREIGN RELATIONS: Lost most of the land that England had previously controlled in France
Magna Carta• In June of 1215, angry nobles forced King
John to sign a document known as the Magna Carta, which translates to “Great Charter”– The nobles agreed that the monarch could
continue to rule and in turn, the monarch was required to observe common law and traditional rights of the Church.
– Initially, this document was intended to protect the rights of nobles and the Church, however over time, the people of England viewed it as a foundation for the protection of liberty for all
Hundred Year’s War• England and France fought a series of battles between
1337 and 1453 over the ownership of land in France– Early English kings had initially been feudal lords over
French fiefs, but French kings began to dispute this arrangement
• The Hundred Year’s War forced monarchs on both sides to create large professional armies and no longer rely on nobles to provide knights– The common people gained influence and power as they
were needed to serve as soldiers, workers, and taxpayers
• The war created a certain sense of nationalism on both sides, replacing the loyalty that once existed for local lords
Learn More About the Hundred Years War!
Peasants’ Revolt• The peasants were heavily-taxed to fund the Hundred Years
War• They tried to appeal to the law courts and King, but were
unsuccessful– By the mid-1350s, “treason laws” existed to punish any peasants or
wives that did not bend to their masters’ and husbands’ will
• A series of wide-spread revolts began to take place, including the taking of the Tower of London in 1381
• The aftermath of the Peasants’ Revolt saw an improvement of the treatment of common people. Parliament was forced to curtail taxation. Lords began selling serfs their freedom in exchange for money or contracts that detailed the length of service
Learn More about the Peasant's Revolt!
Military orders such as the Knights Templar were known for their chivalry, wealth, and participation in the Crusades
The Crusades• In 1095, Pope Urban II called for crusade to win back the Holy Land
that had been conquered by Muslims– This was in response to a cry for help from the Byzantine Emperor Alexius
Comnenus, who was suffering loss of land to Muslim conquest– The Church treated Muslims as enemies
• There were four major crusades and many, many smaller episodes – Crusaders were not only knights, but also lords and vassals. Many of
which never returned from battle. This left the manors and fiefs understaffed
– Lords needed to hire workers as well as trade with other fiefdoms in order to survive, creating trade and towns that supported it
• Through trade, crusading, and Muslim conquest, Europe was introduced to Eastern achievements in science, math, and science– an intellectual powerhouse that dominated the hemisphere after the fall of the Roman Empire. These advances helped to jumpstart the Renaissance.
Learn More About the Crusades!
The Bubonic Plague• The Bubonic Plague first
hit Europe in the mid-1300s and occurred every decade well into the 15th century, wiping out a significant portion of the population– nearly a third!
• It is believed that the disease spread through fleas carried by rats that lived on trade ships coming from Central Asia
• During the Middle Ages, people would go for many months without bathing
• Homes were dirty and filled with rats
• Trash, human waste, and dead animals littered the crowded city streets
• The plague was a bacterial infection marked by vomiting, fever, and massive black-and-blue lumps called buboes
• With an estimated 24 million deaths, the Plague had a negative effect on trade and the general economy, feudal lords could no longer staff their land, and the workers that WERE available demanded freedom, money, and more rights. Many even rebelled.
• With a weakened economy, the manor system could no longer be sustained and thus resulted in a loss of power for the lords, shifting the control to the monarchy
Learn More About the Bubonic Plague!
Conclusion• There were many reasons
why feudalism eventually dissipated: – Political
• Magna Carta• Hundred Year’s War• Peasants’ Revolt
– Cultural• Muslim influence• Crusades
– Social• Bubonic plague
• Feudalism was replaced by a stronger central government that focused on the power of the monarch and influence of the Church
• A decrease in population, shift in job specialization due to long-periods of war, and the establishment of the Magna Carta all contributed to the decline in feudalism
• No single event is responsible for this decline; several political, cultural, and social factors contributed to the abolition of this institution
• All of these factors, coupled with Europe’s adoption of Eastern medicine and scholarship led to what would eventually become known as the Renaissance in Europe, an age of enlightenment following the Dark Ages.
References
• Bean, John Malcolm William.
The Decline of English Feudalism, 1215-1540. University of Manchester Press, 1968.
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online.http://www.britannica.com/
• Ohio’s Learning Standards, Grade 7 Social Studies. Ohio Department of Education.
Author’s Note:
This slideshow is a brief introduction to
the decline of Feudalism in Europe.
Students are encouraged to visit
the links provided for further, in-depth
reading on the topic.
