European Feudalism Top 10

1. Feudalism- This new economic and political system created three classes of people. Clergy, Nobility and Peasants called the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Estates.

2. Rise of cities- This increased trade, markets, the building of walls for protection, and created freedom for peasants.

3. Pope- Had great power with the ability to excommunicate people; united Europe under the power of Catholicism

4. Castles and Cathedrals- Forced Europe to build a civilization because groups had to unite to build the large buildings. Infrastructure like roads, business, accounting, markets and cities were all built to help support the task of raising castles and cathedrals.

5. Trade- Islamic, eastern, African and European cultures mix and spread ideas. Silk, soap, coffee and other new products go back and forth.

6. Manoralism- A social way of life which made life more enjoyable for lower class people.

7. Plague – killed 1/3 of Europe and spurred economic growth because so many people died that others were able to work and were forced to work harder.

8. Mongols- Conquered huge amounts of land and were very powerful in Eastern Russia; help form Russia and were stopped on the edge of Vienna.

9. Italian city state trade with Mediterranean and middle eastern markets. The Hanseatic League worked similarly for northern cities. The League protected its member merchants and offered fair trade and support.

10. Migration - the economic situation was poor for farmers, many of which lost their land and became paupers. Secondly, people were on the move as a result of religious persecution, Crusades or political conflict. The desire of the new states to expand also drove migration.

Quotes:

The banners of the king advance, the mystery of the cross shines bright; where his life went through with death, and from death brought forth life.
-- Venantius Fortunatus in Analecta Hymnica

To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice.

-- The Magna Carta

Consider your origins: you were not made that you might live as brutes, but so as to follow virtue and knowledge.

-- Dante in The Divine Comedy.

Summary Paragraph

Feudalism in Europe had made a hierarchy type ruling system which we still use today. Feudalism then led to a pope. The Pope in the 12^th century had great power to excommunicate people. In modern times the Pope very much does the same in the Catholic Church which was originated in this time period. Lastly this time area had a rise of cities. This was really the first time that freedom had come into play in European civilizations because rules needed people to move to cities to work so rulers offered city dwellers freedom from serfdom. The rise of cities also helped develop cities that were economically and politically stable which we have today.