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Decline of Feudalism

Self-sufficient and localized nature of the feudal economy; its erosion by the urban revolution started the revival of money economy, renewal of city life, rise of the new social stratum of classes. The consequent commutation of manorial service into money payments by the peasants resulted in the disruption of the manorial economy. Manorial disruption brought drastic changes in social relations and state organization. Different strata of society became crystallized in the pattern of estates with each estate grouping people of the same social class. Thus the former vertical links were now replaced by the new horizontal links. There were no formal links of dependence between estates and all were in direct relation to the crown. There was gradual decrease of insecurity in the rural areas and decline in the powers of the local magnates, rise of powerful monarchies which were supported by the newly risen middle classes against feudal lords.