Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: There were many minor provinces in the region between southern Liguria and northern Tuscany dominated by the Malaspina ; Tuscany in this time was a part of feudal Europe .
Simplified: There were many minor communes in the region between southern Liguria and northern Tuscany ( which was filled by the Malaspina ) . Tuscany in this time was part of feudal Europe .