The Rise of the Stirrup

Medieval heavy shock cavalry could not exist without the stirrup. As such, thanks to the stirrup, a class of horse riding landed nobility emerged. Collect taxes more efficiently, fight more effectively. And so they became a class divide and the birth of chivalry and feudalism. I mean, I'm not sure that the advent of feudalism was a positive thing. But it was probably necessary at the time though because I don't think anybody was ready to just skip over it and head directly into Victorianization.