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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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