European Feudalism Research Paper

The emergence of European feudalism began in the fifth century when the Visigoths pillaged in Rome, leaving the Romans in Europe no choice but to return to their homeland. As a result, the vast European lands were left without an organization and a lasting system of Roman centralization. The disintegration of Europe following the departure and power of the Romans gradually guided to European feudalism. The feudal system first appeared in the Frankish lands, after the Carolingian Dynasty came into control, creating a new social, political, and economic organization. The beginnings of feudalism started with the antecedents of Charlemagne. The power was fragmented with the Franks after the demise of King Charlemagne. When the Western Empire

However, the royal power declined and local dynasties became independent. As a result, they started to build up small territorial states for themselves. Because this social system was fast growing, all the countries throughout Europe started to implement this. As a result, major countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia, France, and various Slovakian countries adapted onto this social hierarchy. Feudalism continued in all parts of Europe until the end of the fourteenth

For instance, the Lord and Vassal were similar to the feudal hierarchy, resembling the arrangement of a pyramid. Here, rank was developed based off of your social class. The king resided at the top of the pyramid. In the feudal relationship, the king was the lord of a group of dukes and the counts were his vassals. The lord and vassal owed certain obligations to each other. The vassal vowed to complete certain services for his lord, and in return the lord granted him a fief. The king formally possessed all fiefs, however, a vassal held all the rights of ownership of the fief as long as he performed the services required by his lord. The entire kingdom was separated into fiefs, aside from the area held by the king directly. Alongside the king ownership, there was also a lord-serf obligation. The lords owned both the land and the serfs. The lord was obligated to protect the vassal, give military aid, and guard the children of the king. The serfs, however, would receive protection and land from the lord. Not technically slaves, serfs were bound to a lord for life; they were like property that was tied to land. Serfs were not privilege to own property and needed the lord's permission to marry and could not leave the land without the lord’s permission. In addition to their own holdings,