feudalism

A detailed Summary of feudalism

Feudalism was a system of governing where an upper class (nobility) has certain well-defined responsibilities to the king in return for the use of land (fiefs) exploited with the labor of a peasantry (serfs). The relationships in the feudal system resemble a pyramid. The lowest vassals are at the base and the lines of authority flow up to the peak of the format, the king. Lords and vassals were networked together in a web of mutual obligations. The vassals owed their lords a specified number of days annually in military service and in protecting the castle. At the top of the pyramid was the lord, which meant that he accrued much of the benefits. He was the owner of all the land within his designated region. Feudalism was a contractual agreement among the upper classes by which a lord gave land to his men, vassals, in return for military services. The contract was verbal, which often leads to disputes in duties and obligations. There were no solid borders placed upon territories held by a lord

. The boundaries of ownership were constantly changing hands. The entire area of the kingdom was broken up into smaller pieces of land. The smaller pieces of land were called fiefs. The lord or overlord granted them to the vas

The renewal of trade and industry brought in towns and a powerful urban class that looked to nobles to maintain the freedom and order. The numerous flaws of the feudal system would eventually lead to its downfall in 1660. Feudalism was initially used as a method of local defense. In the times of uncertainty that plagued after the fall of the Roman Empire feudalism provided public power and armed forces in the hands of private landowners.

The constant division of land and ownership due too subinfeudation and inheritance, would further lead to the decay of the feudalism. Feudalism would survive beyond the close of feudal inhabitancy in 1660. The influence remains in present day Europe. Feudal remnants remain in English constitution. The idea of private ownership and rights of the individual are directly taken from the feudalism. Centralized government exposes the shortcomings of feudalism. For feudalism to last eight centuries, was remarkable. To think that society could be ruled on the bases of verbal commitment and trust was extraordinary. That certainly would not happen in today society.

The vassal being the selected soldiers in which the lords surrounding them selves began to move in to the upper class of society and in way became aristocrats who followed the court.

The weakness of feudalism was exposed early in its existence. Problems in inheritance became a severe weakness. If a lord could not bargain or keep a deal he and the vassal

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Approximate Word count = 981
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics