 In the Middle Ages, from the 9th century onwards, the region was colonised and controlled by the Carolingian Empire.In the late Middle Ages the towns developed into small centres of local commerce and the local feudal lords ("Landadel") expanded their fortified manor houses.At the beginning of the recent era, these manorial seats formed the basis of aristocratic estates ("Adliges Güter") which dominated the landscape and the economy from about 1500 until the 20th century.