EASY PLS SUMMARIZE The Middle Ages, or medieval period, began
with the collapse of the Roman Empire and left
Western Europe with no unifying
government. In response, political and social
systems emerged, such as feudalism and
manorialism, that were based on powerful local lords and
their landholdings. The Christian Church emerged as a
unifying force in Western Europe and had great influence
over economic, social, and religious life. Conditions gradually
improved, allowing Europeans to build a new civilization
based on Greco-Roman and Christian traditions.