From within these castles, they governed their subjects and organized armies, and the castles became very visible reminders of Norman power and the feudal system.
The small scale, local nature of the feudal system was perfect for a time and place where the threats to peoples’ safety were also small scale and local.
Scholars offer several different reasons for the decline of this long period but agree that the feudal system's decline and loss of power by the Church were significant factors.
Something still more like the feudal system of the Old World appeared in the numerous manors or the huge landed estates granted by the crown, the companies, or the proprietors.