AtIn western Europe, in the early middle ages, an amounta number of invasions into it´sits territory eventually led to the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire and the rise of feudalism. This system emerged from just a disaster, during which the Emperor Charlemagne's grandchildren were required to rule the kingdom after his death. They had awere under lot of pressure since they had to reign after an emperor thatwho was even more powerful than Justinian and very loved by the people. The lack of public authority, personal relationships, the practice of judicial obligations by local lords or landowners, and the creation of a military upper class, defined the medieval "feudal system.". A key fact is that feudalism consists in : "I give you, you give me":. The lords or landowner concede a land called a fief to a vassal, in exchange for military protection. In the pyramid of positions, after the king werecame the vassals, next werethen the knights (they fought) and then theythere were horsemen thatwho agreed to defend the lords in exchange for fiefs, also. Also, according to the code of chivalry, they had to fight bravely for theytheir lord, God and his chosen lady. Finally, came the peasants (the ones who work)worked). These social classes were often inherited. The Bishop was obviously very high up in the pyramid, and lived withenjoyed the same luxuries as the nobles; this was because one of the most unifying elements of the Middle Ages was the Roman Catholic Church. All classes of people were profoundly affected by the rulings of the church. Following the pope, in order of rank, there were bishops, priests, monks and nuns.