English philosopher and political theorist, Herbert Spencer once said, "Feudalism, serfdom, slavery, all tyrannical institutions, are merely the most vigorous kind to rule, springing out of, and necessarily to, a bad state of man." To understand what Spencer meant is to understand the origins and development of European feudalism. The concept of feudalism has dominated much of the research and study of Europe during the Middle Ages. Feudalism was, without doubt, the framework for all political, economic, and social life during this period. And even still today, we can see the origins of feudalism throughout our system of government worldwide. As such, it is important to analyze and understand the feudal system, its development, and how it changed politics and law. First, we must understand the basic core tenants of feudalism-and try to define it. From there, we can go on to examine the origins and development of the European feudal system and how it became the hierarchical system that it was. Then, we should be able to observe its impact on the political world of today.
Feudalism is not a term easily defined. Strictly speaking, feudalism was a set of legal and military customs, bound and governed by loyalty, in medieval Europe. It was a system that structured society around relationships of mutual agreement and loyalty derived from the holding of land in exchange for labor. The feudal society was one in which peasant agriculture was the fundamental productive activity; in which slavery was non-existent or marginal, but serfs were still tied to the land in some way; in which a small elite defined by military activity dominated. What this looked like in practice and how it was implemented puts it into a more realized idea and will help us comprehend its origins and development, and impact today.
Feudalism developed in the centuries during and after the fall of the Roman Empire-a period of great turmoil and political instability.
Feudalism Problems in Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries were necessary for the residents at that time. ... The development of feudalism began. ... Social classes began to change due to feudalism. ... Although I've merely "scratched the surface" of feudalism, knighthood, and city life, hopefully my point is obvious. ... The invasions made Europeans realize they were weak and unprotected. ...
The feudalism system of government was introduced in Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire. ... Feudalism also consisted of chivalry, a code of conduct for the knights. ... Feudalism has been in Japan since the 1100's. Like in Western Europe they had a main ruler. ... Under them were the shoguns that were the equivalent of lords in Western Europe. ...
FEUDALISM As early as the eighth century and as late as the twentieth century, traces of feudalism can be seen in the history of Europe and other parts of the world. ... The usefulness of feudalism proved itself when feudalism spread across all of Europe and into parts of Asia. ... The serf was always on the bottom of the pyramid unless he granted his land to even lesser people to work for him which was very uncommon and only existed in some areas of Europe. ... The ceremony was the same in most parts of Europe and was much like a ritual or tradition. ... In some areas of Europe ser...
Feudalism Started in the 900 AD and was a medieval contract relationship among the European upper classes, by which a lord granted land to The Knight in return for military service and other services like food and clothing. ... Origins and Early History The European feudalism has been sought in non-European countries like Japan was a feudal (feudalism) based counties. ... The extent of feudalism was not so large as it seems for many parts of Europe were never feudalized; feudalism was largely confined to northern France, western Germany, England, and the Norman kingdom of Sicily. Other parts o...
FEUDALISM Feudalism is system of political and military relationships existing among members of the nobility in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. ... Feudalism is characterized by the granting of fiefs, chiefly in the form of land and labor, in return for political and military services a contract sealed by oaths of fealty (fidelity). ... But when the Muslims, the Vikings, and the Magyars invaded Europe, the Germans found themselves unable to deal with these rapid moving armies. ...
"What factors in the European Society gave rise to the Age of Exploration? ... The main factors that gave rise to the Age of Exploration were the rapid population explosion, the decline of feudalism and the craving for spreading religion. ... Europe's population nearly doubled between the years of 1500 and 1650. ... The decline of feudalism helped to release peasants from the influence of their nobles and expose them to new ideas. ... The Age of Exploration was brought on by a sudden population increase, the decline of feudalism and the craving for religious expansion. ...
The structure of feudalism is a form of hierarchy. ... This type of hierarchy dominated the Feudalistic period, and continued to influence many Eastern European countries many years after Feudalism ceased to exist. The final major characteristic of Feudalism is the pledge of fealty. ... This pledge that the vassals made to the lord were the key element in defining Feudalism. ... Feudalism was a system of government that was used when nothing else seem to work. ...
Feudalism, which was the form of government at that time, began to decrease and a more central government was formed. ... Feudalism, the system of government that had been most prominent in Western Europe, began to decline after the crusades ended. ... As far as technology went in Western Europe, during the crusades, the eastern Muslims were far more superior to all of Western Europe. ... The crusades brought Western Europe into a much more modern age. With the decrease of Feudalism people were free from obligations to the manor and could be successful. ...
But when the Muslims, the Vikings, and the Magyars invaded Europe in the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries, the Germans found themselves unable to deal with these rapid-moving armies. ... Feudalism was based on a legal agreement by which a lord granted land to a man in return for military service. ... Feudalism was basically a descending pyramid of service, with duties running both upwards and downwards. ... There were multiple reasons for the decline of Feudalism. ... The disintegration of feudalism was largely completed by the end of the fourteenth century (Backman, 143-155). ...
