Feudalism During The Middle Ages

The bases of feudalism is best described as a social system in Europe throughout the Middle Ages where individuals worked and battled for upper class who gave them protection and the use of the land in return for their services (Merriam-Webster). “Feudalism” is not a medieval term and not even a translation of a medieval concept (Abels 2010; Brown 2010; Bouchard 1998). In our day and time Feudalism would be difficult and baffling in several ways, but some may feel that we would benefit from it.

Feudalism – a social structure and hierarchy containing mutual duties and obligations. Stability is maintained as long as the system doesn’t change. Physical power resides with the king and nobles through their knights. The Church’s power resides through controlling people’s beliefs. Serfs were tied to the land. The Black Death, however, brought about such massive changes in demographics / population that the demand for a limited labor source (the peasants) meant that this social group at the bottom of the social ladder grew in importance (as seen in the 1381 Peasants revolt) that drastic change and the end of the feudal structure was inevitable.

During the medieval times Kings had absolute power and the Catholic Church made sure God help the King retain this power. During this time feudalism was the structure that shaped society. In the feudalism structure the people that work the land the poor got cero power and live at the mercy of the barons. Barons where the owners of the land that people where let to work and make really low amounts of money while the baron sells and exchange the goods produced by the land and makes a fortune. At the end of the day the land belongs to the king and the king taxes the barons and collects money from all the land making him very, very wealthy and powerful.

Feudalism was a political, economic and social system that exchanged land and loyalty in return for protection. It was a commerce of protection and goods, as seen in the feudal system diagram, there are different types of social classes that have arrows describing what they are trading and to whom they are trading (Document 4). In the late ninth century, peasants gave food and service to the knights in exchange for protection. The knights gave military service in exchange for shelter and defense. The lords gave military aid while the king gives them fief and peasants etc.

But the middle ages was a real time period. Feudalism was a major influence in the middle ages that affected Europeans social, political and economic lives. Feudalism is the relationship between the kings, nobles, knights and serfs. A knight would fight and protect for the Lord, and then the Lord would give them land in return (OI). The same thing would happen with knights and serfs.

Feudalism was a contrasting system dealing with political and military relationships existing among members of the higher social class, Kings, Lords and other owners of large lands in Western Europe during the Middle Ages. The Feudal system started by the granting of fiefs, chiefly in the form of land and labor, in return the lord would receive political and

Western Europe suffered numerous hardships through the ninth and tenth centuries and this was the ultimate reason they established a new political organization which was known as feudalism. By providing honor, protection, and a sense of control, this new social system revived peace and order in Western Europe after the fall of the Carolingian Empire. Feudalism was a necessary ingredient to yield stability in during these times of calamity.

During the High Middle Ages, there was no strong, central government that was politically organized enough to meet common needs of the people in Europe. After the fall of Charlemagne’s empire, invasions and anarchy became the societal norm. If they wanted to survive, they had to meet particular needs. The people of the High Middle Ages met their needs of political organization, economic provision, and social aspects through Feudalism, Manorialism, and through the Church.

Feudalism, as a decentralized political system, flourished in Medieval Europe. In this essay, the main political and economic characteristics of Feudalism will be mentioned, while discussing the main historical factors to the rise and fall of feudalism.

The gradual creation of the Feudal System was extraordinarily important to many different things that occurred and made many changes to the lives of the people. If there was no gradual creation of Feudalism, the world of Europe would be remarkably different with many changes such as there would be no knights which protected people, no serfs to give everyone food, no king to unite the people, and no nobles that would give land to their knights. This would make the life of the people of Europe decidedly

For feudalism caused many things to be corrupt and unfair within society. Feudalism was a tool for the rich and those who had land (Shark). So the feudal society gave the rich an upper edge, where they had the best advantages. Feudalism, although, gave those who weren't rich or powerful (serfs) little protection and prosperity (Shark). As the feudal system gave the rich power, to balance society, it took power from the peasant class, leaving the majority of people (serfs) hard lives. Although, feudalism was still a very effective and important system because it made society function well. Feudalism was based of of the feudal contracts between lords and vassals (who were usually knights) (Biel 9). These feudal contracts kept the system from falling apart, because the two classes must do what they agreed. Also, the king was in the top of the social chain. If an overlord/king wanted to bring together an army in his name, he sent out an announcement which called all of his lower lords and vassals who then prepared themselves for war, and they summoned their own men who lived within their land (Nardo 28). The feudal contracts and systems allowed for the king to have an army when he needed it, and this then allowed for society to have money (for contributing to the army) and protection. It was a system that didn't create social justice, but it created social cohesion (Shark). Meaning, the feudal society was totally unbalanced, but it worked as a functioning system of rule. Therefore, feudalism was an unbalanced system that, still, kept society functioning and

In Medieval times during the 10th and 13th centuries, a form of political and social organization called feudalism was a way of life that had great effect on people of the time and on the modern world. Feudalism was developed because of the weakness of Europe and it's kings. The word feudalism comes from the word fief, which was the land held on condition of feudal service, similar to an estate (English). The fiefs bound together lords and vassals. Feudalism was a structure in which a lord divided his land into smaller parts to give to lesser lords (“Feudalism”).

Feudalism was a social and political system based on granting land in return for loyalty that helped create order in society. During the Middle Ages there was no central government for the people, this is due to the fall of the Roman Empire. Due to this loss a central military was unable to form to give people protection. The only protection people could get was by forming groups of farmers who could only fight part time due to harvesting. Because of this groups such as the Muslims from the south, along with the Vikings and Magyars from the North and East, left Europe in disarray and in fear. Landowners even made small armies to defend there lands! Due to this threat of war and the people not being able to get their needs for survival they

Feudalism was a way for people in the Middle Ages to be divided into different sections, some to be looked down upon and some to be held at the upmost respect. Feudalism was a necessity in times of turmoil, it kept peace, provided a sense of control and protection for those in need.

Feudalism is, thus characterized by political decentralization. The monarchs, having delegated such a substantial amount of authority to the nobles, were left essentially without any real power. The social order, which regulated virtually all of society, dictated the need for a king to maintain public peace. Thus, the monarchs remained in power, but only figuratively (Pirenne, pp. 147-150).