Feudalism: Dominant Social System In Medieval Europe

What was feudalism? Feudalism was the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the serfs were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection. During the middle ages the churches started getting and being more involved and influential over every aspects of feudalism. First the church had more control and influence over the politics of the Middle Ages, even more so than the kings did. Second, the economic portion of feudalism was centered on the manorial system and on trade. Socially, feudalism controlled the hierarchy and the daily routines of the middle Ages as did the church. Finally, within the feudal system military service was needed for the system to work. The popes of the Catholic Church had claimed supremacy over the affairs of the Church and also gained control of territories in central Italy that came to be known as Papal States. This control kept the popes involved in political matters and the Church became increasingly involved in the feudal system. The kings had control over their countries as long as

In the manorial system all legal and economic power belonged to the lord of the manor, who was supported economically from his land and from contributions from the peasant population under his authority. Medieval Europe was basically an agricultural society however in the 11th and 12th century’s new elements changed the economic foundation; it included the revival of trade. Slowly a money economy began to emerge and the already prosperous trade network grew in Europe. The church though did oversee and control most of the trading between the countries. Just as the church oversaw most economic transactions they also oversaw the social aspect of