The Feudal System In The Middle Ages

The societal mindset that was prevalent in medieval Europe, feudalism, phased out due to the bubonic plague and the religious beliefs of the people.

Although 90% of people were peasants, there was a very clear separation between the lower class and upper class. If you were a peasant you would expect to live your life out as a peasant. The same concept goes for nobility. With these roles also come their positions and worth. Royalty obviously were given far better education as their had a higher roll, in comparison to peasants who were expected to farm to feed themselves. The loss of a peasant meant nothing to the death of a king. Evidence of feudalism is often displayed by a hierarchy, displaying the classes and status powers (according to the Finer Times 2008-2015) The role of the feudal system also gave incredible power to the upper class which in turn allowed them to have control over the lower class. This enabled royalty such as kings and dukes to take a life if they so wished it. From this display of power peasants had no choice but to obey, as to disobey a king meant that you were singing away your will to live. Other social status such as Knights also played an important and dominate roll. Knights had power over the people and land, so ultimately if they wished so they could potentially banish you. According to Tammy Pattie (online author of Titles, Positions, Trades & Class, 2011) the roles of the hierarchy were irreversible meaning that unless you were born into royalty, you were essentially going to live out your life as the king demands you to do, often starving as well. The upper class had the social control over you, which meant everything during that

All of the villages had one large farm where all villagers shared as grazing land for their animals. The village also included church land (glebe), the lords hunting forest, and meadows where hay was grown.

The Middle Ages were a period of a lot of discoveries and falls. This period began after the fall of the Roman Empire which led to the rise of Feudalism. Post-Classical Europe should be remembered as the Dark Ages because Europe experienced widespread invasions by barbarian hordes  and destruction during this period, the Roman Catholic Church forced Christianity upon the people of Europe, and the political and social concept of Feudalism dominated the region, subjecting the people of Europe to an unequal social hierarchy. Post-Classical Europe should be remembered as the Dark Ages because Europe experienced widespread invasions by barbarian hordes and destruction during this period, the Roman Catholic Church forced Christianity upon the people of Europe, and the political and social concept of Feudalism dominated the region, subjecting the people of Europe to an unequal social hierarchy.

Everyone gained and got something from feudalism, even Kings. In the Medieval Ages, Kings gave land in return for what his part of the feudal system. All the land in Medieval Europe was owned by the Kings ("People of the Middle Ages"2), and the king would make laws, with ministers and parliament (Macdonald, 30). Since there was only one of him, he gave land to loyal Lords and Knights to rule land ("People of the Middle Ages"). The king would give land to Knights, who would become vassals. The king even allowed peasants to make a living off his land which would take place in for example a manor run by a Lord or vassal (Brooks 1). From the feudal system, Kings also gained many things. From the Knights turned vassals, a king would gain military services from them ("People of the Middle Ages"2).

Medieval Europe, which lasted from about 500-1300 CE, originally was filled with Germanic invasions and threats from groups such as the Islamic Caliphate, the Magyars, and the Vikings. The constant instability from these external threats eventually demanded for a new system of government, which for Europe was feudalism. This system of government would last for centuries, until the eventual rise of towns and trade around Europe began the downfall of feudalism. Japan, although geographically independent of Europe, developed a similar system in around 1300 CE, which lasted until around 1600. After any strong central power fell off, warring clans needed to bolster their military prowess, so military leaders began to hire samurai to fight the opposition.

The middle ages lasted from 500 A.D. to 1500 C.E.. The middle ages were located in Europe by the mediterranean sea. At that time land was more powerful than money.The people that lived in the middle ages took over Europe. The people in the middle ages had a war that lasted

The Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages started when the Roman Empire collapsed. When the empire fell laws went away, trade stopped and civilization collapsed along with it. Civilization had to start anew and as you would guess, it was not easy. Another reason it is referred as the Dark Ages because we do not know much about what happened during this period of time. Many important documents did not survive, making it lost in history. This time lasted around the time from the fifth to the fifteenth century. The Middle Ages ended with the start of the Renaissance period.

Feudalism was needed because of the circumstances, and that meant that several things sparked the development of feudalism. The first reason that the system feudalism started was because of the increased need for a military in order to protect the vulnerable people (Lenehan). Feudalism started to develop when the Western Roman Empire fell, and the Barbarians and Muslims became more of a threat to the people that were left without a society and a group to protect them (Lenehan). People started solving this need for a military and developing feudalism when a group of farmers were brought together in order to help a knight (Lenehan). The Great Chain of Being also helped feudalism develop (Lenehan). The Great Chain of Being was the idea

The Middle Ages was a time of great poverty, inequality, war, and disease throughout Europe; this provoked the age of feudalism. Feudalism was a system of inequality, hard labor, and kept a certain degree of order in a kingdom's throughout Europe. The feudal system was a combination of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that started in the 9th and 15th centuries. And one of the reasons why the Middle Ages flourished. The feudal system consisted of peasants, that were used as laborers, and served there master, knights, were used as soldiers that protected their sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor, and lords where at the top of the feudal system and where in-charge of knights and peasants.

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

The Middle Ages is a term that is used to describe Europe between the fall of Roman Empire and the emergence of Renaissance. The Middle Ages, an era extending from around 476 CE to 1400-1500 CE is also known as the Medieval period. The period has its own divisions that are either early and late middle age or early, high, and late. A Feudal system characterizes the high Middle Ages, an era around 1000-1300 CE. The late middle ages, an era around 1300-1500 CE, is characterized by crisis and recovery. Feudalism, a name, which is derived from a German fehu-od forms the basis of the Feudal system (Feudalism). Feudalism could be defined as a social structure that was dominating in Europe during the Middle Ages. Furthermore, Feudalism came into existence to provide security in the absence of sovereign nations. This is because when the Carolingian empire disintegrated, the northern Europe was left open to the invasions and thus, people created the Feudal law to protect themselves from the invaders. Thus, Feudalism and the Feudal system in Europe was a significant part of the Middle Ages that was developed primarily for the protection of the people and the land from the invaders.

From approximately AD 500 to 1400, Europe faced a period of changes in the economy and politics through faith, disease, and feudalism. This period is often labeled as the Middle Ages. The fall of the Roman Empire and diseases that followed resulted in a rise of feudalism. During this period, a few terms describing Europe rose such as the Age of Faith, the Dark Ages, and the Age of Feudalism. While all three phrases may be used to describe the Middle Ages, the Age of Faith is the best label for the Middle Ages.

The Feudal System was sustained by the rights and privileges that were given to the Upper

The economic and social system of time was referred to as the Feudal System. It was a hierarchy that provide land in exchange for protection . The four categories of the feudal system were kings, clergy and lords, vassels, and peasants and serfs. Life was interesting depending which ranking was held. My life is not very interesting because my ranking was peasant.