Feudal System

Definition

The feudal system was a hierarchical structure of land ownership and responsibilities that developed in medieval Europe after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It established a system where the king granted land to nobles in exchange for military service, and those nobles, in turn, provided land to vassals and peasants, creating a network of obligations and loyalties that defined social and political relationships.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The feudal system emerged as a response to the need for security and stability in post-Conquest England, with land ownership becoming the basis for power.
2. Kings at the top of the feudal hierarchy granted large estates to powerful nobles, known as lords, who would maintain their own armies and govern their territories.
3. Nobles relied on vassals to manage smaller portions of land and provide military assistance when needed, creating a complex web of allegiances.
4. Peasants worked the land in exchange for protection but often faced harsh conditions and limited rights under their lords.
5. The decline of feudalism began with economic changes such as the growth of trade and towns in the late Middle Ages, leading to shifts in power dynamics.

Review Questions

• How did the feudal system shape social relationships in post-Conquest England?
  • The feudal system shaped social relationships by creating a clear hierarchy where loyalty and service were exchanged for land and protection. At the top was the king, who granted land to nobles in return for military service. Nobles then had vassals who managed smaller estates, creating bonds of obligation among various levels of society. This structure defined people's roles and responsibilities within their communities, reinforcing social order.
• Analyze the economic implications of the manorial system as it relates to feudalism during this period.
  • The manorial system played a crucial role in supporting the feudal structure by organizing agricultural production around lords' manors. Each manor functioned as an economic unit where serfs and peasants worked the land in exchange for protection and a place to live. This system ensured that lords could maintain their wealth and power while simultaneously providing resources to support their vassals. The manorial economy was largely self-sufficient but also limited economic mobility among the lower classes.
• Evaluate how shifts in trade and urbanization contributed to the decline of the feudal system in medieval England.
  • Shifts in trade and urbanization significantly contributed to the decline of the feudal system by changing economic relationships. As towns grew and trade expanded in the late Middle Ages, a new merchant class emerged that sought greater independence from feudal obligations. The rise of commerce allowed peasants to move into towns for better opportunities, leading to decreased reliance on agricultural labor tied to noble lands. This shift weakened traditional power structures, enabling emerging political systems based on wealth rather than land ownership.

Related terms

Vassal: A person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the feudal system, usually by receiving land in exchange for military service.

Manorial System: An economic system that accompanied feudalism, focusing on the lord's manor as the basic unit of agricultural production, where peasants worked the land and provided services in return for protection and sustenance.

Serfdom:

A condition under feudalism where peasants were tied to the land they worked on and were subject to the will of their lord, lacking personal freedom.