The term feudalism is derived from the Latin feodum, for “fief,” and ultimately from a Germanic word meaning “cow,” generalized to denote valuable movable property. Feudalism began around 450 AD after German invaders had conquered Rome. Its origins were between the Rhine and Loire rivers, but it soon spread from France to Spain, Italy, and later Germany and Eastern Europe. It reached its maturity around the 11th century and proceeded to grow into the 13th century. …showed first 75 words of 1533 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1533 total…for other social changes. Family ties came to be seen as more important than territorial or protective concerns. The economic and social gulf between greater and lesser nobles grew wider, and respect for historically based ties of mutual relationships between lord and vassal steadily weakened. These circumstances, as well as the increasing division of inheritances, all combined to destroy feudalism, slowly and inexorably. The process was largely complete by the end of the 14th century.