Feudalism Overview

Definition and Historical Context

• Term "feudalism" coined in the 19th century.
• Describes societal structure during the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300 A.D).

Structure of Feudal System

• Most land belonged to the king; some land belonged to the church.
• Land distribution:
  • King granted large estates to great lords (tenants-in-chief) for military/political support.
  • Great lords sub-divided land to lesser lords.
  • Lesser lords granted land to local lords.
  • Local lords allocated land to peasants.
• Visual representation: pyramid structure with the king at the top.

Key Vocabulary

• Overlord: Lord granting land.
• Vassal: Person receiving land.
• Thief: The land itself.

Complexity of Relationships

• Relationships often crossed national borders (e.g., Norman conquest).
• Example: English king as vassal to French king for inherited territories.
• Vertical loyalty vs. horizontal relationships:
  • Many ties of loyalty were horizontal among equals.

Varied Services for Land

• Services exchanged for land varied:
  • Peasants: Provided labor or rent.
  • Landowners: Formed alliances, providing military/political support.

Decline of Feudalism

Factors Contributing to Decline:

1. Professional Soldiers:

   • Kings relied less on great lords for soldiers, shifting to professional armies by 1300.
   • Weakened feudal bonds and political culture.

2. Black Death (1348):

   • Reduced population led to higher bargaining power for surviving peasants.
   • Increased ability to choose work locations and demand higher wages.
   • Nobility lost control over lower and middle ranks.

3. Economic Importance of Towns:

   • Towns operated outside the feudal system with their own charters.
   • Contributed to the reduction of noble power and growth of urban classes.

Summary of Changes:

• Great lords less expected to provide military service.
• Peasants gained freedom in work and living choices.
• Money replaced manpower as key economic/political power.

Formal Abolishment of Feudalism

• In England, formally abolished by the Tenures Abolition Act of 1660.
• Other European timelines:
  • France: abolished post-1789 revolution.
  • Russia: peasants freed in 1861.
• Last traces in British Isles abolished by Scottish Parliament in June 2000 (Abolition of Feudal Tenure Act).