Land and loyalty rulers had to keep their

people loyal. From around 850ce, the

monarchs of the Frankish Empire ( France and

western Europe) bought the loyalty of the

noble class by giving them land to run. This

was the start of feudalism, which gave power

to a weak monarch, but it enslaved the

working peasants and created a class system.

INFLUENCE TRAVELS

Land wasn’t the only useful tool for keeping power,-religion was also used to control the masses. The catholic church spread its influence around the world. In 1198, Lotariodei conti di Segni became pope innocent111.He was so influential that he could choose whom he wanted to lead the catholic states within Europe and would isolate those who disobeyed him. He was behind the inquisition and even helped to organize a holy war; against Islam –so maybe he wasn’t to innocent after all.

This allowed leaders to increase their powers

abroad. In 1492, while looking for a trade

route to India, explore Christopher Columbus

discovered the new world and claimed it for

the state of Spain. The native peoples had

little choice but to accept Spanish rule- they

couldn't cope with the Spanish firepower.

By the 20th century, machines were being used

for war. Two new political powers, fascism and

communism, tried out their new war machines

during the Spanish civil war.

However, the handover of power wasn’t totally

peaceful. Arguments between Muslims and

Hindus led to the creation of the Muslim state

of Pakistan, separate from Hindu India.

The two main Super powers at loggerheads

were the capitals US and the communist USSR.

The world was gripped with fear of an

apocalyptic nuclear holocaust as both Super

powers pointed missiles at each other in a

political stand –off known as the cold war.

People started blogging, tweeting, and social

networking and gave everyone a voice.

Although democracy has yet to embrace

computer technology fully surely its just a

matter of time before its a key tool in

elections.