The end of the centralized state in Central and Western Europe Manorialism The end of the centralized state in Central and Western Europe

Warriors become Lords At the end of the Roman Empire farmers worked for a large landowner on his estate or “Manor” German Barbarian Conquerors gave their warriors these manors as rewards As conquerors they became not only the land owner but the local ruler as well, they became ….Lords and the Farmers became Peasants

On a Manor The Lord was the Absolute Ruler of the Manor He made the rules and sat in Judgment over his Peasants Only he and his men could go about armed He was responsible for protecting the peasants from raiders, other lords and each other

A Peasant’s Lot is Not a Happy One A peasant must: pay a rent to the lord out of the crop tithe to the church 1/10th of the crop Work a certain number days a week on the lord’s lands Stay on the land...many were not allowed to leave…they were serfs All for a small plot of land to farm

The Frankish Kingdom 486-506 Clovis led his tribe of Germans, the Franks, in a conquest of Gaul They Established a Kingdom that would eventually be known as France

The Frankish Kings lose power Clovis’s heirs, the Frankish Kings lose control over the local lords And becomes a mere figurehead Eventually the “Mayors of the Palace” ran the loosely organized Frankish Kingdom One named Charles Martel, was running things when the Muslims attacked in 732