1. Feudalism in Western Europe
Unit 1
Activity 12 Presentation

2. Setting the Stage
The Collapse of the Roman Empire  CHAOS (barbarian invasions!)
Western Europe split into independent kingdoms
Feudalism provided some sense of political, economic, and social order
Catholic Church also grew in power and influence

3. Timeline We’ll look at events roughly around here for THIS lesson!
500 B.C.E C.E C.E C.E C.E.
Roman Republic
509 B.C.E. to 27 B.C.E
~500 years
Roman Empire
27 B.C.E. to 284 C.E.
~300 years
Roman Empire (West)
284 C.E. to 476 C.E.
~100 years
Various Kingdoms 476 C.E. to 800 C.E.
Holy Roman Empire +
Various Kingdoms
800 C.E. to 1806 C.E.
~1000 years
Roman Empire (East) later known as the
Byzantine Empire
284 C.E. to 1453 C.E.
Emperor Constantine moved capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium in 330 C.E.
= the fall of the Roman Empire
= the beginning of the MIDDLE AGES

4. Why was Europe split into various kingdoms after the Fall of Rome?
Map
Why was Europe split into various kingdoms after the Fall of Rome?
Medieval Europe, around
ANSWER:
GEOGRAPHY!
Rivers
Provided protection
Separated groups of people
Difficult for one group to control ALL of Europe
Encouraged growth of independent territories and kingdoms
Seas
Mountain Ranges
VVVVV
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GEOGRAPHY: the study of the physical features of the Earth’s surface (mountains, deserts, rivers, oceans) and ways that people are affected by the natural world

5. WHAT is feudalism?
A political/economic/social relationship based on MUTUAL DEPENDENCY
you rely on something/someone
you give and also get something in return
money and knights
land (fief)
protection and military service
land (fief)
food, services, and rent
land and protection

6. A political/economic/social relationship based on MUTUAL DEPENDENCY
WHAT is feudalism?
A political/economic/social relationship based on MUTUAL DEPENDENCY
you rely on something
you give and also get something in return
Example
Give me land to farm and your knights to protect me from invaders.
Give us the food that you grow for us to eat. And rent money from living and farming on our land!
a PEASANT
NOBLES
(lords and ladies)

7. Lack of strong governments Land owning nobles  MORE powerful because:
WHY feudalism?
Lack of strong governments
Kings lost their power
Land owning nobles  MORE powerful because:
Raised armies
Collected taxes
Imposed laws
People needed ORDER and PROTECTION!