The Decline of Feudalism
THE DECLINE OF FEUDALISM There were three main reasons for the decline of feudalism. The development of the Magna Charta and the Model Parliament contributed to the decline of feudalism. The Bubonic Plague greatly affected the people of Europe and played a large part in the collapse of the social structure. The Hundred Years’ War was the final event leading to the end of feudalism. These three blows to the political structure made feudalism desolate by the late 1400’s. The development of the Magna Charta and the Model Parliament contributed to the decline of feudalism. It was an agreement between the barons and the king, giving the barons back their rights. The Magna Charta also gave rise to the habeas corpus, which is still in use today. And the Model Parliament, a governing body, included both commoners and nobles. These two events were some of the first to begin feudalism’s decline. The Bubonic Plague greatly affected the people of Europe and played a large part in the collapse of the social structure. It killed millions of people, tremendously decreasing the amount of people on the manor. There was also an increase in persecution towards Jews and lepers, who were already being persecuted. And after the plague, many peasant revolts broke out across Europe. This terrifying event took a huge bite out of the power feudalism had on people at the time The Hundred Years’ War was the final event leading to the end of feudalism. It was a fight over land between the English and the French, and for a time the English were winning, though the French eventually came through. To fight, they used more advanced military technology, making castles and knights less effective. And a greater sense of nationalism made lords less powerful, giving more power to the kings. An important historical event, and the final blow to the feudal structure, the Hundred Years’ War will be remembered for generations to come. The decline of feudalism was generally caused by three