ABSTRACT
The physical geography of France helped in the unification of fairly diversified peoples. North Germany, however, is a plain, south Germany is mountainous. Between 887 and 1056 the history of these peoples is marked by the growth of feudalism and the founding of the feudal kingdom of Germany, particularly under the Saxon Kings Henry I and Otto I and the Salian Kings Conrad II and Henry III. Italy was wracked by the struggle of petty princes for the crown, the papacy had become a local power and Pope Formosus appealed to Arnulf to help him in his effort to defend the papal lands from the violent Italian nobles. Successive invasions of north Italy forced the towns to strengthen their fortifications and the proprietors to build castles. With the Lombard plain thus partially closed to them, the Magyars redoubled their attacks upon Germany. In Italy Conrad continued the policy of the Saxon emperors of filling the bishoprics with Germans.
