Europe in the 12th century A.D. was in many ways the same as Europe in the 14th century, but in
certain key ways it was also different, with many changes for the better. First of all, in the 12th
century, Europe was still in the Middle Ages. Emphasis was on religion, and science was not very
advanced. However, towards the 14th century, things began to change. This was the beginning of
the Renaissance, a period of a revival in classical learning, new scientific discoveries, and new
The government in the Middle Ages was based on feudalism. Feudalism is when people
flock to a lord and pledge their allegiance to him, becoming his vassals. They agreed to serve him
on his manor and/or become part of his army. Vassals would also pledge to bring more armed
men to the lord's cause in times of war. In exchange for this service, the lord pledged to provide
protection and security for all of his vassals. This seemed a fairly even trade in these rough and
chaotic times, and so many people were thus becoming vassals of lords. Feudalism began because
weak kings needed to transfer power over to other people, because they could not handle it all
themselves. However, feudalism was a good arrangement for many people in the Middle Ages. In
the 14th century, however, the notion of the lord's army consisting of vassals became obsolete
with the onset of mercenary armies and the formation of towns and cities. Therefore, feudalism
ceased to exist in the Renaissance. During the Renaissance, nations, towns, and cities came to
exist. With these came the feeling of patriotism and loyalty to one's ruler. The rulerships of towns,
nations, and cities also began with the development of strong monarchies and kingdoms. This
resulted from the breakdown of feudalism. The people still looked for protection, and since there
were no more feudal manors, the king assumed the role of protector.
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