What Role Did Feudalism Play In Medieval Society

After the fall of Rome, the saving grace for medieval society was feudalism, which brought them order. Feudalism was a system of interdependence that ensured that all citizens got what they needed to survive, and made forming an army simpler. Manorialism was a large part of the economy back then, and produced very important goods that fed the whole manor. The carpenter was one of the most dominant roles a person could have in that era. Feudalism was one of the largest driving factors of medieval society, and one of the most crucial roles that even allowed this system to function along with manorialism, was the carpenter.

Feudalism was a system of interdependence between the levels of society in the Middle Ages, and was a system that brought

The lord mainly got fiefs and protection, which was sufficient for them to be self-sustained. Some weak landowners had to pledge loyalty to their overlord since they couldn't find stability without help from an overlord- they needed land to support their families (A. Smith 2). Some fiefs that a lord could get were a grant of land, financial support, protection, or if the overlord desired, all of these things (Nardo 18). As part of the deal between king and lord, the king was expected to protect his lord, and provide him with military support in times of trouble. It was like the life of the lord was the king’s responsibility (A. Smith 2) The lord also had to help the king with many of his daily activities and always be ready in case the king needs his services. His loyalty to the king meant that the lord had to be ready to supply money and precious materials for the kings sake, to cover any debts or money shortages. He might even have had to search for a bride for the king! (Nardo 19). Specific occasions when the lord might have to help the king financially were when the king’s eldest daughter was married, his oldest son was being knighted, or for the king’s own ransom (A. Smith 4). Vassals usually gave their superior lords a specific sum of money called shield money to their overlords instead of military service. This made it hard for

The work of serfs and freemen allotted time for the overlords and knights indulge in other activities, as well as incentives the overlord uses to prompt the knight to join his army. Peasants were an important part of how the king forms an army. Though they were not part of the feudal relationship of vassal and lord, they supported the entire feudal structure by working the land with labor. “Their labor freed lords and knights to spend their time preparing for war or fighting” rather than making the lords and knights watch over the land and do some work of their own (Focus on Feudalism 2:20-2:30). If the knight joined the army that the king was creating, the agreement that was made with the king was an insurance-type deal; that if the knight were to become a soldier, his whole family would be protected through this (C. Smith). The feudal system proved to be very favorable in helping the rulers form an army by giving the knights what they need. In return for these military services, the feudal overlord owed certain things to the vassal. Primarily, the overlord gave wealth and support to the vassal. This might take the form of money. “It might mean a sharing of whatever treasure or goods were taken in battle. Usually, however, it meant that the feudal lord actually gave a piece of land to the vassal - this was called a fief” (C. Smith). In the event in which a vassal passes