The Rise of Feudalism
E. Napp
Objective: To identify and explain the changes that occurred in Western Europe with the
fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of feudalism during the Middle Ages
Do Now: Multiple-choice questions from previous lessons
1. Which title best completes the partial
4. • Cyrillic alphabet adopted for use in
outline below?
Russia.
I. ___________________
• Russians accepted the teachings of the
A. Incorporation of European and Arabic
Orthodox Christian Church.
ideas in architecture
• Onion-shaped domes dotted the skyline
B. Preservation of Greco-Roman ideas
of Kievan Russia.
C. Spread of Orthodox Christianity into
Which term is most closely associated with
Russia
these statements?
D. Development of Justinian Code
(1) ethnocentrism
(1) Age of Discovery
(2) cultural diffusion
(2) Byzantine Empire
(3) interdependence
(3) Persian Empire
(4) colonialism
(4) Crusades
5. • Justinian issues a new code of laws.
2. Which ancient civilization is associated
• Greek culture is preserved.
with the Twelve Tables, an extensive road
• A split develops in Christianity
system, and the poets Horace and Virgil?
between the Roman Catholics and Orthodox
(1) Babylonian
Christians.
(2) Greek
Which empire is most closely associated
(3) Phoenician
with these statements?
(4) Roman
(1) Byzantine
(2) Mughal
3. China under the Han dynasty and the
(3) Persian
Roman Empire were similar in that both
(4) British
grew wealthy because they
(1) developed extensive trade networks
(2) created classless societies
(3) encouraged democratic ideals
(4) established free-market economies
About 500 CE, much of western Europe was
left without a strong centralized government due
to the breakdown of the Roman Empire. With
little organized resistance, Germanic invaders
raided western European cities and
monasteries. Because kings were often too weak
to repel the invaders, many city dwellers moved
into the countryside in hopes of greater safety.
As a result of the invasions, and a weak central
government, a new social and political system
known as feudalism developed. Strong local
lords formed a strict code of behavior and
allegiances which became the foundation of
feudal life. ~regentsprep.org
Questions:
What happened to Western Europe
around 500 C.E.?
________________________________
Why were Germanic invaders able to
raid cities and monasteries?
________________________________
Why did many city dwellers move?
________________________________
Why did feudalism develop?
________________________________
What did local lords do?
________________________________
Cornell Notes Outline: The Rise of Feudalism (Add Key Words and Summaries)
The Key Words:
The Notes:
I.
The Fall of Rome
A. By 476 C.E. (A.D.), the last Roman emperor left
Rome
1- The central government collapsed
2- Hundreds of little kingdoms replaced the
Roman Empire
3- Initially, taxes were not collected
4- Roman soldiers no longer protected
people
5- Learning decreased
6- Warfare increased
B. The Early Middle Ages began
1- A terrifying time in Western Europe
II.
A New Social and Economic Order
A. Feudalism developed
1- Kings needed soldiers
a) Lords provided soldiers in exchange
for land
b) Land was exchanged for military
service
B. Many people became serfs
1- Serfs were peasants bound to the lord’s
land
a) Serfs worked for lords in exchange
for protection
b) Serfs could not leave his lord’s
lands
C. Manorialism developed
1- People lived on manors
a) a manor was the lord’s land
2- Manors were self-sufficient
a) produced all of the people’s needs
3- Trade decreased
a) initially, a dangerous time for trade
The Summaries:
Please read the passage below and answer the questions:
The fall of Rome changed Western Europe. Germanic tribes slowly took over Roman
lands. People did not obey Roman laws any longer. Roman soldiers could not keep order.
Hundreds of little kingdoms took the place of the Roman Empire. These kingdoms had no
system for collecting taxes. Rulers had no money for government. To make matters worse,
these little kingdoms were always at war with one another. Trade was nearly impossible
since robbers frequently waited to attack travelers. Roads and bridges were not repaired.
As these problems continued, people lost interest in learning. Schools closed and the people
just tried to survive. Civilization lost knowledge of the past. The world seemed to be
falling down around them. Because of all of this, historians call this period of history the
“Dark Ages.”
Questions:
1- How did the fall of Rome affect the people of Western Europe?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2- Why was trade difficult after the fall of Rome?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3- Why did schools close after the fall of Rome?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4- Why is the period following the fall of Rome known as the “Dark Ages”?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
1. Why did the feudal system develop?
3. _________________ was a political,
(A) To compete with the authority of
social, and economic system that
the Catholic Church
developed during the Middle Ages.
(B) To defend against invasions by
(A) Chivalry
the Chinese and Ottoman
(B) Feudalism
Empires
(C) Plague
(C) To provide organization and
(D) Crusades
defense in a time of political
decentralization
4. Who was considered as the property
(D) To organize large bureaucracies
of a lord and bound to his lands?
in a meritocratic way
(A) Nun
(B) Knight
2. Which of the following was MOST
(C) Serf
important in a feudal society?
(D) Monk
(A) King
(B) Land
5. Why were peasants willing to be part
(C) Knight
of the feudal system?
(D) Merchant
(A) The security guaranteed by the
lord and provided by the knights
(B) They had no choice because they
were outnumbered by the
powerful upper classes
More Questions:
 What do you note about the numbers of people present at each level of the hierarchy
or class system?

Which levels had the most people? Which had the fewest?

Who on the hierarchy had the most power over their own lives and those of others?