Storiascopio · Era 7 of 12 · lower secondary year 1
The feudal system spreads
about AD 900 · The Frankish kingdoms and western Europe
In short
After Charlemagne's death his empire split up and the kings could no longer defend all their lands. So a powerful lord would hand over a territory, the fief, to a vassal, who in return swore loyalty to him and helped him in war. Peasants worked the lord's land and received protection, but many of them, the serfs, could not leave the land where they lived. Castles sprang up everywhere, where people took refuge in times of danger.
Why it matters This system organised life, work and power in Europe for several centuries.
Source: Treccani, entry “Feudalesimo”
Where we are in the era “Early Middle Ages”
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about AD 480Event 21 of 25about 1000
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/the-feudal-system-spreads/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class