HIS109Y1 Lecture Notes - Feudalism
Document Summary
End of 5th century - world not a happy place. Roman laws, roman currency, communication, roads, harbours no longer maintained. The world would become a much more local place. When trade ended, the cities began to decline. Security and safety was no longer present - romans would have enforced this. The need for security would begin to dominate everything in society. Traditions of the ancient roman empire would begin to change. People who would come to offer help for the powerful - mercenaries. More of the safety network would become rural. It was safer, you could have fortified your defences, and you had access to a good supply of food. This was the beginning of feudalism - group to support a leader who will protect them. Was integrated into the barbarian tribes - tribal arrangements tribal chief surround himself with his most brutal warriors. The group of thugs were know as chieftus comitatus.
