Feudalism

Definition

Feudalism was a socio-economic and political system that dominated medieval Europe, characterized by a hierarchy of lords and vassals, where land was held in exchange for service and loyalty. This system established a network of obligations and protections among various classes, primarily involving the nobility, peasants, and the monarchy. Feudalism provided stability and structure during a time of fragmentation and chaos following the fall of the Roman Empire.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Feudalism emerged in Europe around the 9th century as a response to invasions and the need for protection and stability.
2. The king was at the top of the feudal hierarchy, granting large parcels of land to powerful nobles in exchange for loyalty and military support.
3. Lords would further divide their land among vassals, creating a chain of loyalty that connected different levels of society.
4. Peasants worked the land and provided food for the nobility while receiving protection in return; many were serfs who had limited rights.
5. Feudalism began to decline in the late medieval period due to factors like the rise of centralized monarchies, increased trade, and the growth of towns.

Review Questions

• How did feudalism establish a social hierarchy in medieval Europe?
  • Feudalism created a clear social hierarchy where kings granted land to lords in exchange for loyalty, forming the upper tier of society. Below them were vassals, who received smaller portions of land from lords while offering military service. At the bottom were peasants and serfs, who worked the land but had little power or rights. This structured system helped maintain order during a time when centralized authority was weak.
• What role did manorialism play within the feudal system and how did it influence daily life?
  • Manorialism operated as an economic counterpart to feudalism by organizing agricultural production on estates known as manors. Lords controlled these manors, where serfs worked the land to produce food for both themselves and their lord. This arrangement created a self-sufficient economy, with most daily life revolving around farming and local resources, ultimately tying peasants' livelihoods directly to their lords' fortunes.
• Evaluate how changes in trade and urbanization contributed to the decline of feudalism in medieval Europe.
  • As trade routes expanded and towns began to flourish in medieval Europe, economic power shifted away from traditional feudal structures. Merchants gained wealth and influence, challenging the authority of lords and leading to greater social mobility for common people. Additionally, urbanization allowed peasants to seek opportunities in cities where they could earn wages rather than remain tied to feudal obligations. This gradual shift weakened the rigid hierarchies of feudalism and paved the way for more centralized forms of governance.

Related terms

Vassal: A vassal is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation with a lord, typically involving the exchange of land for military service and loyalty.

Manorialism: Manorialism is an economic system that was closely tied to feudalism, where the lord's estate, or manor, was the basic unit of economic life, involving peasants working the land.

Serf: A serf is a laborer bound under the feudal system to work on a lord's estate, unable to leave without permission, often considered part of the land.