The feudal system began to decline after the Black Death struck Europe in the late 1340s. The feudal system combined with politics and brought together the social classes of that period. It began with the “relationship between two freemen (men who are not serfs), a lord and his vassal. Vassallo derives from a Celtic word meaning servant, but in feudal terms vassal meant a free person who placed himself under the protection of a lord and to whom he lent loyal military aid. At first this relationship was mutually beneficial, but great restrictions were endured during the development of the system. During the late 1340s a plague spread across Europe and began to take its toll on the feudal system in place. This plague was known as the Black Death and has been described as the most influential and devastating natural disaster to occur in Western Europe. It swept across Western Europe in an extremely short period of time, without attacking any particular person or group, and devastated the region killing between a third and half of the population. The plague caused such a dramatic loss in the population that power roles began to change. This change allowed for increased power within the middle and lower classes. The Black Death played an important role in the decline of the feudal system due to the various effects it brought to society. Feudalism was the foundation of the employment relationship between the serf and the lord or king. A serf was a semi-free peasant, who was granted minimal legal rights and was tied to the land. The nature of the relationship that was established "between the strong 'lord' and the weak free man was initially more ethical and emotional than legally binding." To start this “relationship” an act called homage was customary. Homa...... middle of paper...... 28-47. JSTOR Arts & Sciences II, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2011). “The Black Death of 1348 to 1350,” The History Learning Site, accessed 28 November 2011. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/black_death_of_1348_to_1350. htm.Chambers, Moritmer et al.,The Western Experience Volume I 10th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010).IBidYeloff, Dan and Bas van Geel. 2007. “Abandonment of Agricultural Land and Vegetation Succession following the Eurasian Plague Pandemic of 1347–52 AD” Journal of Biogeography 34, no. 4:575-582. Academic research completed, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2011). Yeloff, Dan and Bas van Geel. 2007. “Abandonment of Agricultural Land and Vegetation Succession following the Eurasian Plague Pandemic of 1347–52 AD” Journal of Biogeography 34, no. 4:575-582. Academic research completed, EBSCOhost (accessed November 6, 2011).