Inventions of the iron stirrup and a new type of harness made cavalry warfare the principal mode of warfare.

Iron-Stirrups: –

It made it possible for a heavily armored person to sit firmly on a horse without falling off. It also made possible a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider begin thrown off by the shock of the impact.

New type of harness: –

It enabled the horse to draw twice the amount of load it pulled earlier. Both these inventions came to Europe from East Asia.

They spread in India from the 10th, century onwards. “Many factors political, economic and military were responsible for the growth of feudalism in Europe.”

THE CHURCH.

In the absence of a powerful empire in the West, the Catholic Church took on some of the functions of the governments. The pope exercised political and moral authority.

“Medieval age was an age of religion.” People who spoke on behalf of religion exercised a great deal of power and influence.  Many monastic orders and monasteries were set up with the help of grants of land from the prices and the feudal chiefs, and donations from rich merchants.

Many monasteries give medical help and shelter to the travelers served in countries for education and learning. “Catholic church played an important ride in the Cultural life of Europe.”

Note: – With wealth, some monasteries began to behave like feudal lords leading to internal discord and conflict with the rulers who resented the worldly power of the church and pope. This conflict was reflected in the Renaissance and reform movement later on.