TitleBritish LiteratureJune 2, 2010The Decline of FeudalismFeudalism was based on a hierarchical social structure. William the Conqueror being the first king, he was appointed to the top of the hierarchy along with God. Everyone else was below them and had to follow their own path. This system worked systematically for years until things started to change. The people were moving away from what the king had created them to be. They were creating their own lives. The fall of feudalism was caused by the Crusades, the merchant class, Thomas Becket, Magna Carta, the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death. In 1072, Jerusalem and the Holy Land were conquered by the Muslims. Along with the spread of Islam and the growth of the Turkish Seljuk Empire, Jerusalem and the Holy Land didn't seem to have a chance. The people who lived there were forbidden to practice anything religious. In 1093 an appeal was sent to the Pope to send armies to reconquer the land. Pope Urban II called for a “holy war” to regain what they had lost. Nearly 60,000 people responded to the pope's appeal. (http://www.wolfhavenproductions.net/FeudalEurope/crusades.htm) Despite the strong desire to attack Muslims, there were those out there who thought war was wrong. Jesus told us to love our enemies, not fight them. People believed that there had to be a more peaceful way to solve this problem. There were so many people out there who didn't recognize that there was another choice other than war. People were trying to get out and let them know that war wasn't the answer. Jesus was a pacifist and they knew he didn't want a problem like this to be solved with violence. (BOOK) In the end, however, four great crusades, not including other small ones, ... half the paper ... g land now that boosted the wool and cotton industries. All the farmers from the outskirts of England soon moved to the city after the epidemic had spread. Serfs began to gain power due to the death of all the people who came before them in the feudal system. This upset the feudal order and led to the final blow that destroyed feudalism. (http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/black-death.htm) As you can see, the decline of feudalism was caused by the Crusades, merchant class, Thomas Becket, Magna Carta, Hundred Years War and Death Black. Each, in their own way, overthrew the feudal hierarchical system until it became obsolete. People were given the rights they deserved and everyone was to be considered equal. Thanks to all these causes, England managed to emerge from the chaos of feudalism and become a nation full of equality..