Feudalism In Ancient Rome

After the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, western Europe fell into shambles. In an effort to reorganize themselves, a new government needed to be developed. They settled on a system called Feudalism. Feudalism is a loose system of government based on land deals called fiefs between lords and their vassals in exchange for military, or other services. Loyalty was given first to one’s direct lord. Some serfs (peasants who worked the land) had many lords. Some lords had many vassals, giving them much power and service pledges. The manor soon developed into its own self-sustaining community, with people farming land, earning money, trading amongst themselves. They were in some ways the cities of the medieval world. The system lasted for hundreds
The plague caused another major power shift in power. The plague killed off a third of the population of Europe, resulting in a shortage of skilled workers. Survivors of the plague realized this and jumped at an opportunity they had not previously had. Now they could demand higher wages and more workers rights. The people in need of workers had no choice but to agree, as they were running out of money and needed to make more. Once word got out about the new opportunities in the cities, people began leaving feudal manors to move to cities seeking work. This weakened the manor system, lessening the power of lords. Nobles understandably weren’t too fond of the sudden change, and tried to return thing to how they used to be and continue the old ways. But by now the peasants were fed up with following their nobles. A huge amount of peasant rebellions broke out in France, Flanders, England, Germany, Spain, and even Italy. Though it was a critical factor in the overall collapse of Feudalism, the reforms were still more significant because of the amount of change. The plague may have opened up jobs and weakened the economy, but the reforms added so much more, even including the poorer people of the day in the government. A huge deal because they had a voice in their own community now instead of just being the silent