Feudalism began in Western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire left the region divided and weak. Without political organization, people united locally to defend against frequent invaders like Vikings, Muslims, and Magyars. This led to the feudal system where lords provided land to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. Feudalism first emerged in France, England, and the Low Countries, and later spread to other parts of Europe. Over time, feudal states centralized as power concentrated in stronger relationships between lords and kings, eventually transforming feudal regions into nation-states. Medieval European society was strictly ordered, with kings and lords at the top.

1. Warm-Up
B2
Create a frayer model on the back
side of your warm-up using one of
the 6 vocabulary words in the first
concept column.

2. Background/
Context
• After the fall of the Western
What happened to Western
Europe after the fall of the
Western Roman Empire?
The Carolingian Empire was
seen as a rebuilding of the
Western Roman empire. What
happened to the Carolingian
Empire?
Roman Empire, Western Europe
was divided and weak.
• A Frankish king, Charles the Great
(Charlemagne) built a new empire
in Western Europe (the
Carolingian Empire), but it too
would collapse; leaving Western
Europe unprotected and without
any real leadership/government.

4. Background/
Context
• Western Europe was constantly
Who constantly raided and
invaded Western Europe?
Why did feudalism begin in
Western Europe?
invaded by Vikings from the
North, Muslims from the South, and
Magyars from the East.
• Without any real political
organization to provide
security, people began to united
locally in small groups to defend
themselves.
• This was the reason for the
beginning of the Feudal System in
Western Europe.

6. Political
Feudal System
What is feudalism?
What was the main focus of the
feudal system?
• Feudalism is a system of
obligations (promises) that
govern the relationships
between the lords and vassals
in medieval Europe.
• The primary concern of
Feudalism was land and people
(protection / loyalty).

7. Political
Feudal System
What did a lord give to his
vassals?
What did vassals give to their
lord?
• A lord needed people to help
protect his lands from Vikings
and other invaders.
• A lord would allow a vassal to
use some of the lord’s lands (to
work and manage) and promised
to protect them.
• In return, the vassal promised to
be loyal and serve (protect) the
lord.

8. Political
Origin of Feudalism
Where in Western Europe did
feudalism first begin?
• Feudalism first began in Western
Europe in the areas of France,
England and the Low Countries
(Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxemburg)

9. Political
Spread of Feudalism
What did William the
Conqueror do?
Other than where it began,
where would feudalism
eventually spread to?
• William the Conqueror is given
credit for the spread of feudalism
from France to England.
• Eventually it would spread to other
areas like Spain, Eastern Europe,
and Russia

11. Political
The Evolution of Feudalism
What does it mean for
something to centralize?
How do these feudal states
begin to centralize?
• As feudalism spread, it began to
centralize (meaning power
increased at the top of the social
order – Kings > Lords.)
• This focusing of power in a central
place happened through the
relationships that were being
made between lords and the king,
as well as, by military power.

12. Political
The Evolution of Feudalism
What did feudalism begin to
turn into?
Why does feudalism
eventually lead to nationstates?
• As feudalism in a particular region
became more and more
centralized, it would eventually
become a nation-state.
• Feudalism concerned itself with
land and people (and NOT a
city), when these areas became a
more centralized state, it saw itself
as a land and people rather than
just a city.

13. Social Order
The Pope
(leader of the Catholic Church)
In Medieval Europe
1. Kings
What was the social order of
Medieval Europe?
/
2. Lords /
3. Vassals /
4. Serfs /
Secular /
Archbishops
Bishops
Priests
Lay people
Religious

14. 1. What happened to Western Europe after the fall of the
Western Roman Empire and Carolingian Empire?
2. Who constantly raided and invaded Western Europe?
3. Why did feudalism begin in Western Europe?
4. What was the main focus of the feudal system?
5. What did lords and vassals provide each other?
6. Where in Western Europe did feudalism first begin?
7. Other than where it began, where would feudalism
eventually spread to?
8. How do these feudal states begin to centralize?
9. Why does feudalism eventually lead to nation-states?
10. What was the social order of Medieval Europe?