How Feudalism Fell and Nations Rose in Early Modern Europe

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores the significant political transformations that occurred during the early modern period, focusing primarily on Europe's shift from feudalism to centralized nation-states. The narrator guides viewers through a historical investigation to answer the question: "What forces caused power to shift and governments to change in early modern Europe?" The lesson connects specific historical events—such as the Magna Carta, the Protestant Reformation, and the Peace of Westphalia—to broader trends in governance. The content analyzes three main drivers of change: cultural shifts like the Renaissance and Humanism, economic changes brought on by the Age of Exploration and the rise of the merchant class, and technological advancements such as the printing press and gunpowder. It explains how these factors collectively dismantled the feudal system, allowed monarchs to consolidate power through standing armies and bureaucracies, and eventually paved the way for modern democratic ideals. This video is an excellent resource for World History or European History classrooms. It helps students practice cause-and-effect reasoning by linking technological inventions (like cannons) directly to political outcomes (the decline of castle-based noble power). The video features built-in pause points with discussion questions, making it ready-to-use for interactive classroom learning or flipped classroom assignments.