O feudalism was an economic, social and political organization, based on land ownership that prevailed during the Middle Ages, in Western Europe.
It began with the crisis of the Roman Empire and the barbarian Germanic societies.
What was feudalism - Summary
O feudalism had its beginning around the 5th century, from the fall of the Roman Empire. As a way to prevent the displacement of the peasants, the settlement system was enacted - the settler was obliged to settle on the land, under the guardianship of the owner of the land. This working relationship remained during feudalism, giving rise to serfdom.
Large swaths of land also collaborated with the feudal system. From the decline of barbarian invasions and urban activities in addition to the center of economic life, the fiefs became the peasants' hideout to defend themselves from the barbarians.
Thus, the Empire became rural and political decisions began to be taken by local powers.
feudal economy
In the ninth century, Western Europe was already ruralized. However, the economic and political situation became very unstable after the expansion of the Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula and the new barbarian invasions.
With this, commercial activities were reduced and the need to create private armies and fortification of castles was seen.
It was in these closed and fortified places that lords and peasants lived, producing their own food.
The manor, that is, the large rural property, was basically self-sufficient, as it produced almost everything it needed. Surplus production was exchanged in villages, fairs or other fiefs.
It is important to point out that the feudal lord did not have definitive possession of the land. Generally, fiefs were granted by the king to nobles in exchange for military and political services. Thus, the relationship of suzerainty and vassalage was established.
The land was divided as follows:
- Manor House: place where the castle was located. All production belonged to you.
- Meek servile: lots divided among the peasants. Place from which they took their livelihood.
- Communal tame: formed by woods, forests and pastures. Used by both feudal lord and serfs.
feudal society
Land ownership was the element that defined the feudal society. With that, the two fundamental classes were the feudal lords and the serfs (majority of the population).
There was no social mobility between these two groups, therefore, son of a nobleman was a nobleman and son of a servant was a servant.
Thus, feudal society was strongly stratified, that is, each segment had an unalterable social and legal situation.
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The relationship between social classes was based on the exploitation of the work of the servant, who, as a worker, rural without land ownership, by seeking the protection of the nobles, he reaffirmed the position of the feudal lord as an elite dominant.
Even though the link between these two groups was mandatory, he did not allow the peasant to be sold, expelled from the land or enslaved.
In exchange for the military protection and the lands granted, the serf owed certain obligations:
- Corveia: working for free on the lord's land some days a week;
- Size: give a percentage of the production;
- Banalities: fee paid for the use of the manor's equipment.
There was another social group, the free workers, called villains. Already in other parts of Europe, there were slaves. In any case, servile labor prevailed during the Middle Ages.
feudal politics
During feudalism, the power of the king was only nominal, that of the state weak. The slow fragmentation of centralized political power reinforced local powers and the feudal-vassal relationship.
Despite his royal attributions, the king was yet another suzerain within the net of suzerainty and vassalage.
church
THE Catholic church it played an important role in the formation of feudalism, as, in addition to structuring the medieval man's worldview, it was a great landowner.
It was an institution that survived several transformations that took place on the European continent. For the medievals, the Catholic Church was the holder of knowledge.
Monasteries became the centers of intellectual and cultural life in the Middle Ages. In addition, they fulfilled important political and economic functions.
Crisis of feudalism
THE crisis of feudalism it started from the great transformations in the 11th century, a period called the Low Middle Ages.
The development of cities and commerce increased the sources of income. In this way, production was based on free wage labor, generating the emergence of new social classes, such as the bourgeoisie.
One of the elements that contributed to the transformations in the feudal system was population growth, which created the need to increase food production.
Thus, the necessary conditions were created for the revival of commerce and urban centers. THE transition from feudalism to capitalism it was slow and gradual.
Learn more at:
- Art and Literature in the Middle Ages
- Witches in the Middle Ages; Origin, witch hunt, curse, abstract
- Main inventions of man in the Middle Ages
- Check out a comparison between feudalism and capitalism
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