The Feudal Mode of Production

According to historical materialism, this switch from the ancient to the feudal mode of production was a regression for society. The forces of production were still defined by agriculture, manual and animal labor with some technological help from things like water mills. In the cities, crafts were made by free artisans who eventually organized themselves into guilds. Around these feudile forces of production came a monotheistic catholic church and a hierarchical monarchy with divinely ordained kings that preached a timeless chain of being. But around about 13 hundred, something started to happen. Most probably rocketed forward by the black death, which swept through europe and killed a third of the population.