Using the Internet, encyclopedia, and/other reference material for research, write a 1,000-word report on feudalism in the history in one of the following countries:
•France
•England
•Germany
Include the approximate years when feudalism began and ended in that country. Give its strong and weak points, including how feudalism finished its course in the country you selected. In addition, tell who the national leaders were at the time that feudalism was active in that country. Did the national leader play a part in encouraging or harming feudalism within their country? Please explain.
You may have to search and research, but once you learn some good sources and methods, you should have success. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library. Libraries these days subscribe to enormous research databases, and they are often usually more useful than Internet searches. Ask your librarian if you have access to EBSCOHost -- it has several databases within it, including a huge one for academic research, at least three for health sciences, one for military and government, and others.
For Internet searching:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.
My favorite way to search is to use Google's advanced search page http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). Another is to start out at http://scholar.google.com. However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.
Learning to use Google or other search engines can save you time and help you learn to find information efficiently. Here are some websites that can teach you how:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/FindInfo.html
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/searchtips.html
http://www.pandia.com/goalgetter/index.html
http://websearch.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true&COB=home&PM=112_100_T
... and one to help you judge whether a particular website's information is worth your time:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/evaluate.html
Happy searching.
To write a 1,000-word report on feudalism in France, England, or Germany, you can follow these steps:
1. Conduct preliminary research:
- Begin by searching on the internet for credible sources that provide information on the feudal system in the country you have chosen.
- You may also consult encyclopedias or other reference materials to gather relevant information.
- Make sure to note down the approximate years when feudalism began and ended in your chosen country.
2. Start with an introduction:
- Begin your report with a brief overview of the country and introduce feudalism as a socio-economic system.
- Provide a definition of feudalism to establish a common understanding for the readers.
3. Background and historical context:
- Describe the historical circumstances that led to the emergence of feudalism in the chosen country.
- Explain any significant events or developments that influenced the establishment and development of feudalism.
4. Feudalism in the chosen country:
- Discuss the key features and structures of feudalism in the country you selected.
- Explain the hierarchy and social classes that characterized the feudal system.
- Highlight the roles of lords, vassals, and serfs, and describe their obligations and rights.
5. Approximate start and end of feudalism:
- Based on your research, provide the approximate years when feudalism began and ended in the chosen country.
- Ensure to include any key events or periods that marked the decline or transition of feudalism.
6. Strengths and weaknesses of feudalism:
- Analyze the strong points of feudalism, such as its ability to provide social order and structure during turbulent times.
- Discuss the weaknesses of feudalism, such as the lack of social mobility and economic stagnation.
7. The decline of feudalism in the chosen country:
- Explain the factors that contributed to the decline of feudalism in the chosen country.
- Mention any significant events or ideological movements that challenged or weakened feudalism.
- Discuss the role of new economic systems, emerging philosophies, or political changes in the transition away from feudalism.
8. Influence of national leaders:
- Identify the national leaders who were in power during the period when feudalism was active.
- Analyze their impact on feudalism within their country.
- Did these leaders play a part in encouraging or harming feudalism? Explain their policies or actions that were significant in this regard.
9. Conclusion:
- Summarize the key points of your report, including the approximate years of feudalism's existence, its strengths and weaknesses, and the role of national leaders.
- Reflect on the overall impact of feudalism on the chosen country's history and society.
Remember to cite your sources accurately throughout your report, following the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).