History

FEUDALISM → SYSTEM
SYSTEM

SOCIAL
POLITICAL ECONOMIC

WESTERN EUROPE

Feudalism was the political, economic and social system

which characterised Western Europe between the 9th and
15th centuries
CHARACTERISTICS
Kings lost political power.

Social organisation was based on

relationships of dependence.

The economy was based in agriculture.

The enormous influence of the Christian

religion.
 ORIGIN
814 CHARLEMAGNE DIES Unsafety

FIGHT between the successors of the emperor.

The Muslims attacks on the Christian Mediterranean

coasts.

Second wave of barbarian invaders:

VIKINGS / NORMANS / BULGARIANS / MAGYARS / SLAVS

 LOCAL NOBLES KING
CONCESSIONS DEFENSE
Kings, unable to protect their entire territory, entrusted the
defence of those territories to powerful local nobles, who
swore allegiance and military aid in Exchange for concessions.

PROTECTION + JUSTICE + PERMISSION

WORK + HARVEST + TAXES

Peasants sought the protection of the nobles, in exchange for

surrendering their land or their work.

• CONCENTRATION OF RELATIONS OF SOCIAL

• SUBORDINATION.
LARGE EXPANSES OF LAND.
 VIKINGS
Vikings were a tribe from southern Scandinavia (present-day Denmark,
Norway and Sweden) who from the late 8th to late 11th centuries raided,
pirated, traded and settled throughout parts of Europe. Expert sailors
and navigators abroad their ships, Vikings voyaged as far as the
Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East. For most of the
period they followed the old religion, but later became Christians.

NORMANS
Normans were an ethnic group that arouse from contact between
Viking settlers of a region in France, named Normandy after them, and
indigenous Franks and Gallo-Romans. They adopted the Gallo-Romance
language of the Frankish land they settled and their rulers had a major
political, cultural and military impact on medieval Europe.
Social
Piramid Kings
Pope
Higher Higher
nobility cleargy

Lower Lower
nobility cleargy

Serfs Peasant
Craftsmen
ROMANESQUE
 CHARACTERISTICS
DIFFUSION
1. Benedictine Order, an
organisation of the Catholic
Church, contributed to its
diffusion, building monasteries
and churches.
2. Master stonemasons that
travelled throughout
Europe offering their
expertise contributed to its
dissemination.
DEVELOPMENT 11TH - 12TH
 The first medieval style that
acquired common features
throughout Europe
CHARACTERISTICS (I)
The general impression given by
Romanesque architecture is one of
massive solidity and strength. It
relies upon its walls of stones,
which are very thick with small
openings.
THE IBERIAN
PENINSULA
Timetable
722 756 1031
Battle of Covadonga Independent emir The caliph endured

711 732 929

Battle of Guadalete Battle of Poitiers Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed caliph
Emirate: a political and religiously dependent
province.

Independent emirate: a political and religiously

independent province.

Caliphate: great political and cultural splendour.