Feudalism was a form of government common during medieval Europe that involved society being structured in a very rigid and hierarchical way. It was popular in European society from the 9th century until the 15th century and was the form of government in which the country was dominated by an absolute monarch, in which all power was held within a single king. The monarch would rule over the country while the rest of the people were bound by a hierarchical system in which people were placed into estates in which they were born. While feudalism was common in Europe in the Middle Ages, it should be noted that many societies throughout history contained elements of feudalism.
Understanding feudalism is best viewed through the ownership and working of the land. In a feudal society, the land was owned by noble lords and worked by the local peasants, who were also referred to as serfs. The lords would receive the land from the monarch who would in return expect the noble lords to provide the king with soldiers for his armies, which would often come from the peasant class. Peasants would work for the noble lord in exchange for the ability to live and work on the land.
FEUDALISM – MAIN PRINCIPLES
Historians have identified several main principles of feudalism as a political, economic and social system. In general, the main principles of feudalism were based on land and classes. For instance, feudal societies had several distinct classes or estates, including: clergy, nobility, knights and peasants. With that said, at the top was the absolute monarch (king or queen), who owned all the land and distributed it to nobles or lords in return for loyalty and military support, especially in time of warfare or crisis.
The clergy were the first class, the nobility the second, and the peasants would represent the third class. The clergy and the nobility enjoyed the most power and prestige in society and generally held most of the important positions in the government and military. Also, beneath the nobles were the knights, who were granted smaller pieces of land in exchange for serving the nobles in battle. At the bottom were the peasants and serfs, who worked the land to produce food and goods for everyone above them. In return, they received protection and the right to live on the land. The peasants and serfs made up the vast majority of population but lacked any sort of power in society.
FEUDALISM – HISTORY
While feudalism, as a system, is most often associated with the Middle Ages in Europe, it should be noted that it had its beginnings much earlier. In fact, some historians have argued that the origins of feudalism began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. The fall of Rome left many parts of Europe with no central authority. As such, without a strong central government to provide protection, people began turning to local noble lords for safety. These lords controlled large estates and offered protection to peasants, who, in return, worked the land and provided food and services. This system was based on mutual obligation: lords provided security, and peasants provided labor.
Feudalism grew stronger during the Carolingian Empire under Charlemagne in the 8th and 9th centuries, which is the time that historians refer to as the Early Middle Ages. For example, Charlemagne granted land, or fiefs, to loyal nobles in exchange for military service and support. By the 10th century, feudalism had spread across much of western Europe, particularly in France, England, and the Germanic kingdoms. In fact, by the time of the Middle Ages, feudalism had become the dominant political and social system in Europe.
The feudal system reached its height between the 11th and 13th centuries, particularly in western Europe. However, feudalism gradually declined by the late Middle Ages due to economic changes, the growth of towns, stronger monarchies, and events such as the Black Death, which reduced the population and increased the value of labor.
In all, feudalism lasted until the end of the 15th century but was still common in some countries well into the 18th century. With that said, the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment brought about an end to the feudal system, as they both promoted a move towards liberty and individual rights, and questioned the traditional forms of authority. Famously, feudalism was ended in France due to the events of the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century.
