Download Feudalism Notes - Prep World History I

FEUDAL STRUCTURES IN EUROPE
King
Nobles (Dukes, Marquises, Counts)
Knights
Knights
Knights
Knights
Knights
Knights
Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants Peasants
Pope
Abbots
Bishops
Bishops
Bishops
Bishops
Abbots
Abbots
Abbots
Abbots
Abbots
Priests/Monks Priests/Monks Priests/Monks Priests/Monks Priests/Monks Priests/Monks Priests/Monks
*note top three ranks of Churchmen are drawn from nobility*
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Any two levels are connected by mutual responsibilities and obligations; this system is known as
vassalage (though the term is not usually used in the Church hierarchy). The term comes from the
word vassal, which refers to the inferior member of the relationship. The superior member is known
generally as the lord, though the specific title may vary (in the knight-peasant relationship, for
example, the knight is the lord and the peasant is the vassal).
The lord generally was required to provide some form of protection to the vassal, which could be
military or economic or both; the vassal was required to provide some form of service to the lord,
which could also be military or economic or both. For example, the king granted lands known as fiefs
(and the peasants that went with them) to his nobles in exchange for their loyalty, military service,
and local governance.
The supremely decentralized system that thus developed is known as feudalism: an economic and
political system characterized by rigid class structure bound by obligations of loyalty and service
(very similar to the shogunate structure in medieval Japan)
The Church system, while on a smaller scale than the socio-political system, was similar in nature
and structure. Think of a monastery’s lands as a fief, with the Abbot as lord and the monks as vassals.
The pope, like a king, granted positions of political & economic power to the “nobility” of the
Church (and in most cases the high-ranking churchmen were from the real nobility).
90-95% of the population were peasants, also known as serfs. This percentage also included the few
merchants and artisans, who did not develop into a separate class until the end of the Middle Ages
and beginning of the Renaissance. The serfs were not quite slaves but were bound to the land and had
few rights; the nobility had great opportunity to take advantage of the serfs, to the point of outright
oppression. The remaining 5-10% were nobility and, unsurprisingly, held all the power.
Chinese Feudalism: 1000-256 BCE (begins with Zhou, disintegrates in Warring States Period)
Japanese Feudalism: 1192-1800 +/- CE (begins with Kamakura Shogunate, ends with Meiji Restoration)
European Feudalism: 800-1400 +/- CE (depends on location, begins in France, primarily Normandy—in
Russia serfs are not freed until late 19th century)
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Feudalism: decentralized political, social, and economic order
Fief: “something of value” (generally land); governed as small self-contained system and given in
exchange for service to a higher authority
Manorialism: aspect of feudalism, primarily refers to specific relationship between aristocracy and
peasants (serfs)
Monasticism: similar system, refers to the organization of Church communities
Lord (dominus): gives fief, respect (autonomy), justice (protection) to vassal
Vassal: gives relief (taxes), aid & council (service at court), vassalage (military service), hospitality,
monetary support to lord
Plighting one’s troth: solemn oath establishing bond between lord & vassal (close to kinship)
Europe’s Problems: moneyless economy, inadequate transportation & communication, ineffective central
governments, patchwork kingdoms, threats from outside (Vikings, Magyars, Muslims)
Europe’s Response:
1. After Charlemagne, as Europe fragmented and as central governments weakened, local control
increased, land shifted hands, some internal fighting; peasants initially welcome change with promise
of local control & stability & safety
2. Feudal structures developed naturally from earlier Germanic comitatus system
3. Kings distributed lands in exchange for civil & military service, nobles in turn supply, defend, &
maintain organization & production on fiefs
4. Serfs become bound to the land and their lords, owe duties in exchange for protection; eventually
little better than slaves
5. Fiefs become nearly autonomous economic & social units; taxes on serfs go to lord, king, and church;
system easily abused & serfs oppressed, varied by region and power of lords
6. Greater lords begin to absorb lesser lords in feudal relationships (violently or otherwise); contracts of
homage (service) and fealty (faithfulness); becomes firmly hierarchical, allows for gradual
centralization (somewhat similar to the process that led to China’s unification under its first emperor)