The fall of the Western Roman Empire led to an increasing dependence on feudal societies as regional powers vied for control of land.
This transition was characterized by the fragmentation of political authority and the decentralization of power, which necessitated a system where local lords managed lands and provided protection to those living on their estates in exchange for service and loyalty. The instability that followed the collapse of a centralized Roman authority prompted the rise of feudalism as a means of establishing order, security, and social structure in a time of uncertainty.