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== Europe ==

== Europe ==

European Feudalism began in the 8th century and flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref>

European '''Feudalism''' was a political-economic system that began in the 8th century and flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries. It is a major concept for Marxist historians, who look for the transition from feudalism to capitalism, especially in the [[French Revolution]]. Non-Marxist historians use it as well, though less and less often in recent years.

Feudalism in [[Europe]] was made up of a [[noble]] or [[lord]] who were granted property by monarchs in exchange for military assistance. These lords were able to build castles, sometimes with a moat, which would serve as a defence against enemies. The lords would rent their land out to [[vassals]] who swore an oath of fealty to defend the land against common enemies and were also required to make some sort of payment to the lord.  Vassals were considered nobles but with less power. [[Serfs]] were bound to the vassals and their land, such that they had to swear fealty to him. The serfs would farm the Lord's demesne in exchange for defence by the lord and permission to farm some of the land for subsistence purposes. Over time this system evolved such that rather than labor services being used as payment by the serfs, they would pay with goods such as food, and eventually money. If one lord sold the land to another the peasants would not move as they were bound to the land and to their new lord.

Feudalism in [[Europe]] was made up of a [[noble]] or [[lord]] who were granted property by monarchs in exchange for military assistance. These lords were able to build castles, sometimes with a moat, which would serve as a defence against enemies. The lords would rent their land out to [[vassals]] who swore an oath of fealty to defend the land against common enemies and were also required to make some sort of payment to the lord.  Vassals were considered nobles but with less power. [[Serfs]] were bound to the vassals and their land, such that they had to swear fealty to him. The serfs would farm the Lord's demesne in exchange for defence by the lord and permission to farm some of the land for subsistence purposes. Over time this system evolved such that rather than labor services being used as payment by the serfs, they would pay with goods such as food, and eventually money. If one lord sold the land to another the peasants would not move as they were bound to the land and to their new lord.