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Feudalism system in Europe
Feudalism system in Europe
The rise an fall of feudalism
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Feudalism • The economic, political, and social system in the 9th to 15th century in Europe where general people work for the nobles of that time and in return the nobles gave them security and land use in return. An example of feudalism in the 9th to 15th century would be a person agreeing to farm land for a noble and in return the noble would grant protection and shelter for the person. Another example would be the nobility holds land from the Crown in return for military service and power and vassals. The peasants in this system were compelled to house on the owner’s land. The owner in return gave the peasants homage, work, and a part of the produce and military protection. Interregional • Interregional is defined as two different regions
Imagine having to keep a promise to support a lord for exchange for land. Or having to work on land in transaction for protection and a bit of the harvest for your family. This is one effect of the rules of feudalism and the manor system (OI). For Europeans in the Middle Ages, the social, political and economic lives were influenced by the feudal system.
The evolution of human society consists mainly of ineffective ruling regimes and oppressed peasants. Medieval Europe falls into this same pervasive cycle. Social and political hierarchies intertwine which creates a grossly inefficient system. Hereditary lineage determines nobility. Commoners possess no hope of social mobility. Every aspect of life is virtually preordained. These circumstances revolve around the figure Lanval by Mari de France. Mari de France introduces Lanval as a courteous and distinguished knight of King Arthur’s court. Lanval possesses the most moral nature of all of King Arthur’s knights, yet even so, the other knights of King Arthur’s round table despise him. The many knights neglect acknowledgment of his nature as does
Feudalism dominated European social life during the Middle Ages (Doc.1). “Feudalism was a political, economic, and social system in which nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king” (Doc. 1) "Social" life in the Middle Ages was the only kind of life people knew. Whether nobility, craftsperson or peasant, your life is defined by your family, your community and those around you (OI). “The Church protected the Kings and Queens (OI).” “The King is above Nobles, Nobles above Knights, and the Knights are above serfs (Doc.1).”
All throughout history and even in modern day countries have been structured by a social class system, however sometimes terrible disasters can set off this social balance. The Black Death was an appalling pandemic that swept through Europe killing thousands of medieval Europeans. Feudalism was a social system based on each level giving and getting products and services to keep the medieval society and it’s people alive. All classes during the Black Plague were affected, noble or serf, this caused a monumental power shift and the social classes never to be the same again. With feudalism’s tight social structure, the Black Death in the late 1300s demolished the population and feudal ties in medieval Europe.
Manorialism and Feudalism were weakened by the rise of merchant guilds, plague epidemics, and nationalism. The rise of merchant guilds facilitated long distance trade during the medieval period [1301 - 1500], and lasted into the 18th century. Guilds were social, political and economic organizations in medieval towns. They cared for social and economic welfare of members. Guilds assisted in the rise of new middle class. They enjoyed a trade monopoly in towns, allowed members to earn a living wage. Guilds bypassed or contravened feudalism and manorialism when they purchased self government charters for towns from nobles or started new towns.
Feudalism is a system of land ownership and duties that were used in the Middle Ages. Under feudalism, all the land in a kingdom was the king's. However, the king would give some of his land to the lords or nobles who fought for him. Rulers in all society wanted to create law and order and ensure that people make good use of the society’s resources. That is why feudalism was created. Monarchs had to accept limits on their own personal power. They also needed to respond to expectations that other groups in society have a say in decision-making. People began to use medieval courts for problems that had previously been solved by trial by combat.
Europe’s social structure in the Middle Ages consisted of feudalism. A hierarchical society of Kings granting land to nobles, who would then give a fief to a knight in return for service. The knight would then have peasants or serfs working on their fief. However, as the plague spread, many peasants died and their labour could not be replaced. This loss of workforce had a significant impact upon the economy as grain was not being harvested and livestock roamed free. The agrarian economy had been severely damaged, the land became uncultivated and returned back to its natural state. This rural collapse eventually led to food shortages in towns and cities.
The feudal system was one that arose in England after the invasion and conquest of William I. It has been said that this was the perfect political system for this time period. Life was really hard back in the Middle Ages and safety and defense were really hard to come by after the empire fell. There were no laws to protect the poor, so they turned to their lords to keep them safe. The king was in complete control of the system and he owned all the land. One quarter was kept as private property and the rest was given to the church or leased
Feudalism is a system depending on loyalty and obligations of all the levels, meeting the needs of its people because everyone would benefit in some way. The Hundred Years war was the start of the decline of feudalism through its military by changing what the Lord’s needed the military to have and as a result, making the lower class wealthier and more powerful. Every class had an important role that needed to be filled for feudalism to meet all of the people’s needs. King Edward the third died without a direct heir, leaving the lands of France unclaimed. The King of England tried to claim the land and as a result, started a 116 year long war that went on for many lifetimes. Proving your worth will get you to be well known, for instance, Edward the black prince said "My father is right. I need no aid. My men will hold their post as long as they have strength to stand." And then he rode where the battle was still furiously raging, and encouraged his men. The king of France led his force a number of times against the prince's line, but could not break it and was at last compelled to retire (Richardson)
Corruption in the Name of God: Judge Danforth’s Unforgivable Sin 1692, Salem, Massachusetts, was one of the most gruesome cases of mass hysteria, where nineteen innocent people were publicly executed due to the decisions of one corrupt man. Correspondingly, after the Second World War, mass hysteria manifested itself yet again in the lives of American citizens in a time period known as the Red Scare. Many people during this time were accused of affiliation with the feared Communist party, even if the allegations were backed with minimal evidence. Victim to the consequences of this craze himself, Arthur Miller created The Crucible to inform his readers of the similitude of 1692, Salem, and the Red Scare. He employs characters such as Judge Danforth to criticize the decisions made by those in power during the
In Europe between 1000 and 1600 the role of peasantry cannot be overlooked. Peasants were essential in maintaining the agricultural and economical standards set by their lords. They were the backbone of society because they became the source from where the supply of food will come from, sustaining themselves and those of higher power. Due to the high demands of work made by authority figures towards the English and German peasants, peasants felt taken advantage of and revolted. The grievances and aspirations that cause these revolts were similar but yet distinct. Being a vital part of society, peasants felt as the royal government and the church to be corrupted, taking advantage of their power in order to make them meet their wants and needs.
The feudal system was a political, military, and economic system based on the holding of land. The system was developed since the whole entire basis of rule from all the civilizations before the Middle Ages was lost. Early Europe was in desperate need of such a system since they were constantly being raided by the Vikings and other outsiders.
The lords and ladies of the Middle Ages were individuals who people were dependent upon. They needed some help of their own as well. Their castle’s in which they owned and lived in needed to be taken care of, so the lords and ladies hired serfs to do the work. The system is called manorialism and it is when peasants and serfs would do work in the lord’s estate or castle. The lord and lady with their families, lived in the part of the castle called the keep which had things like the great hall and the dance hall.
During the fifteenth century, a majority of people in Europe were peasants before the industrialization. Only people of the higher
Although scholars dispute its roots, Feudalism was mostly seen in Frankish lands around the 9th and 10th century. ("Feudalism: History of Feudalism in Europe." Infoplease.) The system was first introduced as a means of protection for the king. However, as time grew the opportunity to use it as means of exchange for services between the king and vassal was found. Instead of just forcing people into the king’s army the idea of giving fiefs to those who would pledge their life to service the king was decided on. Likewise, vassal, or the knights saw the advantages they had that could be used to their advantage.