The Roman Empire dominated western Europe until the 476 CE when it fell apart. After Rome collapsed, Western Europe became politically fragmented between many & various, both large & small, kingdoms. Competition between these monarchs for land & influence was intense, & borders shifted often as rivalries grew overtime. 

European feudalism was a system of mutual rights and obligations for different members of society. Think of it as you do this for me, and I will do this for you.

Large government bureaucracies were not typical in Europe during the Middle Ages. Most kingdoms’ governments were small. The decisions of kings and queens had little effect on the daily lives of most Europeans. Feudal lords that controlled the land that a person lived on made most of the governing decisions that directly affected people’s day-to-day existence.

Starting in the 1300s, Europe underwent a social, political, & economic revival. A significant changes was the slow breakdown of feudalism, which took many decades to nearly complete eteriorate. Howeber, in some European locations, feudalism persisted into the 1700-1800s.