Decline Of Feudalism Essay

Register to read the introduction… It was a system of rule in which powerful local lords gave pieces of their large plots of land to lesser lords. Lesser lords, or vassals, promised loyalty, provided the lord with 40 days of military service each year, certain money payments, and advice. In return, the lord gave his vassal a fief to work and live on and he promised to protect his vassal. Vassals had lesser lords working for him and knights were part of this system by living/protecting these estates. Towards the High Middle Ages, this system came to an end. The main reason was because of The Black Death. However, that was not the only reason. It was also due to the Crusades and the signing of the Magna Carta. The Black Death was a disease transmitted by fleas and rodents that came from Asia by trade and travel. There were black and blue spots on the body and it was really contagious. If someone in the house had it, you knew that you would catch it and die by the end of the week. One-third of the population in Europe suffered from this plague. This gave the healthy serfs and common people a higher opportunity and power. Feudal lords were looking for …show more content…
According to “The Crusades” packet, it were military expeditions from 1096-1270 to capture Jerusalem, the Holy Land where Jesus was born. This was between the European Christians and the Muslim Turks. After the Seven Crusades, the Holy Land was still under the Muslim control but Europeans learned how to build better ships and maps. Trade and travel also increased. The Crusades brought an end to feudalism. The lords went bankrupt by spending most of their money on military equipment. Without the money, the vassals were not paid enough, leading to the end of the system. Many lords also died in the fighting and after their death, there barely was any power left over the manor and it broke the feudal