O feudalism and capitalism were two dominant economic systems in Europe in the periods comprised by the Middle and Modern Ages, respectively. The transition between them took place gradually, thanks to the economic, political and social changes that took shape in the continent.
Check out the main comparative features between the two, as well as how the process of transition from one system to the other took place.
Index
- When did they occur?
- System base
- Work regime
- Work relationships
- Economy
- economic concentration
- social mobility
- production mode
- Technologies
- Transition between feudalism and capitalism
When did they occur?
- Feudalism: persisted throughout the Middle Ages, approximately, between the 5th and 16th centuries
- Capitalism: gradually, it was formed during the 15th century, but it was during the 18th century Industrial Revolution that it gained strength. Since then, it has spread around the world and is the dominant economic model in most countries.
System base
- Feudalism: concentration of land and power
- Capitalism: land and property ownership
Work regime
- Feudalism: menial work
- Capitalism: Salaried work
Work relationships
- Feudalism: worker was land-bound and owed taxes, protection to the feudal lord
- Capitalism: free worker to choose where to work
Economy
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- Feudalism: economy based on agriculture and the exchange of goods, with little use of currencies
- Capitalism: economic expansion through trade (buying and selling), industry and the financial sector (wide use of the monetary system)
economic concentration
- Feudalism: concentration of economic power in the hands of the nobility represented by feudal lords
- Capitalism: ruling class constituted by the industrial, financial and commercial bourgeoisie
social mobility
- Feudalism: state-owned society with little possibility of social mobility
- Capitalism: open society with greater possibility of social ascension
production mode
- Feudalism: subsistence production of goods on a small scale due to rudimentary and artisanal techniques
- Capitalism: large-scale commodity production thanks to the use of machines and technologies for profit, capital accumulation and consequent enrichment
Technologies
- Feudalism: low technological advancement and archaic production techniques
- Capitalism: major technological advances that follow today
Transition between feudalism and capitalism
The feudal system went into crisis thanks to cultural, social, economic and political changes that took place in Europe in the 15th century. With the expansion of commerce and population, the fiefs were emptied giving space to salaried and free workers, as well as tenants.
Commercial development gave rise to a new social class, the bourgeoisie, which contributed to the acceleration of the mercantile economy with the expansive use of currency. Other transformations marked this transition, including in the cultural, artistic and scientific areas.
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