Difference between revisions of "Feudalism"
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== Europe == | == Europe == | ||
| − | European Feudalism began in the 8th century and flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries. | + | 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. | ||
Revision as of 18:33, May 1, 2009
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Contents
Europe
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.
Japan
Feudalism also developed independently in Japan. Skilled military leaders called bushi raised armies of Samurai to defend their estates. The samurai lived by a code of conduct called Bushido. Bushido was similar to the Chivalry of Europe, but included a code for Japanese women to follow. Bushido emphasized extreme loyalty to one's lord even more than chivalry, making the Japanese amazingly tenacious fighters. As in European feudalism, the land was farmed by peasants.
Criticism
In recent years, some historians have criticized the use of the term feudalism, and the way it is used to describe medieval society. They cite three arguments to support this criticism. Firstly, that the term was never used by medieval society, but was invented by early modern lawyers in an attempt to interpret the legal system of the middle ages; secondly, that it reflects a simplified and often incorrect view of medieval law and politics; and thirdly, that modern historians use the term in too many different and often incompatible ways. The debate over this issue continues.
References
- Marc Bloch, Feudal Society classic from Annales School
- Duus, Peter. Feudalism In Japan (1993)
- Herlihy, David. History of Feudalism (1979)
- Brown, Elizabeth E. R. , "The Tyranny of a Construct: Feudalism and Historians of Medieval Europe", American Historical Review 79
- Reynolds, Susan. Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted (1996), rejects the concept
