Question

Determine whether each item describes a cause of feudalism or a characteristic of the system of feudalism.

1.The king gave land grants to nobles for providing knights for wars.
2.The Roman Empire fell when the last emperor stepped down.
3.People needed safety and protection. People were born into a social class.
4.There wasn't a strong central government.
5.People turned to the Catholic church for spiritual direction.

Answer 1

The items describe causes such as the lack of a strong central government and the need for protection, and characteristics like land grants for service of medieval feudalism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The feudal system in medieval Europe arose as a means to provide safety and protection in a time when strong central governance was lacking. Exploring the items in the question:

1. Land grants to nobles in exchange for military service represents a characteristic of feudalism. Lords and kings bestowed land, or fiefs, upon their vassals who in turn provided military support.
2. The fall of the Roman Empire is a historical event that helped create the conditions necessary for the development of feudalism, with its decline resulting in the lack of a strong central authority.
3. The need for safety and protection and a fixed social class structure are both causes that led to the rise of the feudal system.
4. The absence of a strong central government is also a cause of feudalism, as it led to local lords gaining more power and providing the necessary protection and governance.
5. Turning to the Catholic Church for spiritual guidance reflects the sociopolitical landscape of the Middle Ages where the Church held significant power and land, but this item is not directly a cause or characteristic of feudalism itself.