that is created by scholars in the seventeenth century, well after the medieval age. Thus

the term is filled with confusion and inaccuracy. In a way, the term feudalism tries to

condense all the aspects of a complex society into one term. By creating the term,

scholars tried to condense the society into connections to the feud, or estate granted to

"vassus" by lords. The terms vassus and lord meant different things to different groups of

peoples in different areas and during different times. Thus it is hard define precisely what

feudalism is. Scholars however have two differing descriptions about how to view

In one view, that of Marc Bloch, viewed feudalism as t

members of the nobility and thus could not rule. The ruling counts were below kings in

form of government, the vassals and retainers making up the lower class and the counts

with land or other wealth. These retainers became the vassals. These vassals were not

In analyzing the reading, it appears the feudalism was a source of order in Europe.

lords became their rulers as opposed to the kings.

confusion over its origins. Some scholars claim that with the invention of the stirrup, the

Some common words found in the essay are:
Karl Marx, , Marc Bloch, Mifflin Company, view feudalism, retainers vassals, indebted lords, life peasants, lower class, modern view,
Approximate Word count = 524
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)