The Development and Formation of Feudal Society in Western Europe (1000 Word Paper)

In the 9th century and10th century, Christian western Europe was invaded by foreigners from the east, south and north. Magyars comes from the east, Arabs from the south and Normans from the north. These invasions have caused great losses to Western Europe, with production destroyed, wealth plundered and people killed or taken into slavery. The weak and divided western Europe could not organize effective resistance to these invasions, and only feudal lords around the country built castles to defend themselves, which led to a deeper separatist regime. /kloc-after 0/0 century, these invasions gradually stopped. Until the end of the Middle Ages, Western Europe was not invaded and destroyed by foreign countries, which contributed to the continuous progress of its production and culture.

In the 8th century, the Arabs occupied the Iberian Peninsula and crossed the Pyrenees to attack Frank. After the Battle of Poitiers in 732, the attacks in this area stopped. But since the 9th century, Agra dynasty and Fatima dynasty in North Africa have been attacking Western Europe from the sea. 65438+ occupied Sicily in the early 20th century, and then invaded southern and central Italy. In the middle of the 9th century, Arabs once captured Rome, and other big cities such as amalfi, Naples, Salerno, Pisa and Genoa were also attacked. At the same time, southern France was attacked by Arabs. The Arabs established a stronghold in Provence, from which they entered the Rhone Valley northward and plundered champagne everywhere until they reached the Rhine Valley. The Arabs' attack and plunder in Italy and southern France are different from the previous expansion. They have almost no intention of long-term occupation, just robbing rich cities and villages, or robbing people as slaves, causing damage. By 1 1 century, South Italy was occupied by Normans, Arabs declined, and aggression gradually stopped.

Hungarians attack Hungarians, also known as magyars, originated from Siberia or Central Asia and was originally a nomadic tribe. In the 9th century, they were active in the grasslands on the northern shore of the Black Sea, intercepting the goods transported through the Dnieper trade route from time to time. Later, oppressed by other nomadic people, they migrated westward, crossed the Carpathian Mountains, entered the plains along the Tisza River and the middle reaches of the Danube, and gradually settled down. When Hungarians first arrived in Tisza River, they still kept the nomadic habit. In order to get enough living materials, they plundered western Europe from time to time. From the end of the 9th century to the middle of the10th century, their cavalry had been to Germany, central and eastern France and Italy. The worst-hit states are Bavaria and Saxony in Germany. Hungarian cavalry is famous for its quick maneuvers. They avoided fortified cities, looted villages, got a lot of property, and then returned to their original stations. In 955, German King Otto I (936-973) assembled his troops and defeated the invading Hungarians. In order to strengthen defense, he set up border signs in the east. At this time, the Hungarians also changed internally, agriculture was developed and foreign aggression was suspended.

Norman attack the biggest invasion of western Europe came from the Normans in the north. Normans include Danes, Swedes and Norwegians. They belong to the Germanic people who live north of the Elbe River estuary. Although a large number of Germans have settled in Western Europe since the 4th and 5th centuries, they accepted Christianity there. But these normans still lived in the far north Europe, lived a tribal life and believed in their own tribal gods. In the 9th century, due to the pressure of population, on the other hand, the social contradictions and struggles deepened at the end of primitive society, and the Normans invaded and plundered from northern Europe. They are famous pirates, forming gangs and sailing by boat. Norman man-made wooden boat, with sharp bottom and no deck, can carry 40-60 people, with sails or paddles, fast speed and shallow draft. Therefore, it is very convenient to trace back from Haikou along the river and go deep into the inland. In western Europe, there are many such rivers leading to the sea with gentle flow, which became a convenient way for Norman invasion. The Danes mainly attacked England and France, the Norwegians attacked Scotland, Ireland and other places, and the Swedes developed into Eastern Europe, which was called Varyan in Russian history. At that time, many rich monasteries sprang up all over western Europe, which became the main targets of unbelieving Normans. These normans soon learned to ride horses, and rode across the country after landing by boat. They not only burned villages and captured prisoners, but sometimes besieged cities under the leadership of leaders and demanded ransom, which caused great harassment and destruction in all parts of western Europe.

Colonization of Normans Another feature of Norman invasion of Western Europe is that they formed immigration activities, settled down and even established countries in some places.

England was the first place to be attacked by Norman pirates. Since the Anglo-Saxons invaded Britain in the 5th century, England has established some small countries at war with each other. At the end of the 8th century, the Danes began to invade the east coast of England, and many monasteries in Northumbria were looted and destroyed. In the middle of the 9th century, the Danes went south to attack London. After that, they built a wintering base in England and did not return to Denmark in winter. A large Danish settlement has gradually formed in the northeast of England. In 1970s, Alfred (87 1-899), King of Wessex, rose up against the invading Danes, won the battle and divided up the land with them. 165438+At the beginning of the 20th century, King Knut of Denmark (10 17- 1035) conquered England and Scandinavia and established the Knut Empire across northern Europe. After his death, his country disintegrated. England will be ruled by the Anglo-Saxon king again. The Danes who settled in the northeast gradually merged with the local residents.

In the mid-9th century, the Normans also stepped up their attacks on all parts of the Frank River Estuary. Almost all major cities in France were passive, while Paris was looted twice. At the mouth of the Rhine River, Skelter River and other places, the Normans once established settlements. In 9 1 1 year, Charles III of France reached an agreement with Rollo, the leader of the Vikings, to make him a duke and put the estuary of the Seine under his rule. Later, a large number of Normans came here to settle down and formed the Duke of Normandy. 1 1 century, Normandy completely belonged to France and became a big feudal territory of France. The Normans also made two famous conquests in 1 1 century. William, Duke of Normandy, conquered Britain in 1066 and Sicily and southern Italy at the beginning of 12 century, forming the kingdom of Sicily.

In the middle of the 9th century, the Norwegians and Danes continued to attack Ireland and occupied a large area of land. They also sailed westward to Iceland, where a large number of immigrants developed into a unique Nordic culture. They sailed from Iceland to the coast of Greenland and the northern coast of North America, about 500 years before Columbus arrived in America. Unfortunately, they can't stay there for long.

The Norman invasion further weakened the kingship of western Europe. In France, in 987, Hugh Gaby of big noble was elected king by the feudal nobles, and the Caroline royal family ended, and France began the rule of Gaby Dynasty (987- 1328). France was divided between the Duke of Normandy, the Earl of Flanders, duke of burgundy and the Duke of Aquitaine. Gaby's royal family only occupies the area between the Seine River and the Loire River. It is very weak and only retains the name of the king.

The Caroline monarchy in Germany ended at 9 1 1, and the nobles elected Conrad I (911-918) as king. In 9 19, Herzogtum Von Sachsen Henry was elected king (9 19-936), and the Saxon dynasty of Germany (9 19- 1024) began. Otto I (936-973), Henry's son, relied on the church to fight against the independent duke and strengthen the kingship. In 962, Otto I marched into Rome to help the Pope put down civil strife. The Pope crowned Otto and won the title of "Holy Roman Emperor". Since then, Germany was also called the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages, and northern Italy was nominally a part of the empire.