Monogamy was typical of the Mediterranean peoples, too, such as the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. It can be found in other parts of the world, as well.
Morality, in the sense of obligation to a transcendent moral order, can be found in Hinduism (read the Bhagavad Gita), Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Greek philosophy (read Euthyphro, by Plato), and Roman jurisprudence discussing the Natural Law.
Feudalism develops as a central government breaks down. A feudal system developed in Japan under the Shogunate, in China during periods where the Empire was weak (periods of warlordism), and in the Byzantine Empire when it was weakening under the incursions of the Turks.
In other words, none of these things is special to Northern Europe, and some of them doubtless came to Northern Europe as a result of the influence of the declining Roman Empire in the West, and the ascendant Catholic Church......... |
