Middle Ages Regents Practice

The emergence and growth of a middle class through trade played a pivotal role in the decline of feudalism in Europe. During the Middle Ages, society was largely structured around the feudal system, where land was owned by nobles who granted it to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. Most of the population consisted of peasants who worked the land, and social mobility was limited.

However, the increase in trade, particularly during the later Middle Ages, led to the rise of towns and cities. As trade expanded, so did the wealth of merchants and artisans, who began to form a new social class— the bourgeoisie or middle class. This new class challenged the traditional feudal hierarchy by accumulating wealth and power, often gaining significant influence in local and even national politics.

As the middle class grew, they demanded more rights and a say in governance, which weakened the absolute power of the feudal lords. Furthermore, the growth of trade and the establishment of a more market-oriented economy diminished the reliance on the feudal system, as people began to seek economic opportunities outside the rigid structure of feudal obligations. This shift contributed significantly to the overall decline of feudal practices, leading to the establishment of more centralized forms of governance and a