Feudalism in Medieval Time

Feudalism in Europe

Feudalism A social order and political system that lasted until the 1200s. Rooted in the people’s need for protection against invaders and in land owners’ need for defense. Farmers turn to powerful landowners for protection. People receive protection in return for service as soldiers or for turning over title and ownership of their land to the larger landowners. This causes changes and new establishments in social structures and hierarchies.

How Feudalism works The king gives land to lords, who swear an oath of fealty (loyalty). Lords (or nobility) are the vassals of the king. Lords give land to their knights, who swear to serve their lord. Knights are the vassals of the Lord Knights give land to peasants, who swear to provide food and service. Peasants are the vassals of the knights.

Feudalism Already existed in France, brought to England by William the Conqueror. Loyalty and service are the beams that hold the system in place. Homage: a public show of respect or honour towards someone or something. Vassals were their lord’s man in body, mind, spirit, and service.

Feudalism The transaction of loyalty was formalized in ceremony. Vassal kneels before lord, hands in his, swears to serve lord in loyalty and love. Vassal and lord kisses, and lord gives vassal a piece of dirt to symbolize the fief that would be his to use. When a vassal died, the ceremony would occur again with the eldest son.

Feudalism in England To ensure that all territory in England was accounted for, William ordered a survey to be taken of the ownership of every bit of England. The survey results were recorded in the Great Domesday Book which was a valuable source of information for tax collection. Once all the land was accounted for, William distributed the land as fiefs to his Norman followers.

Hierarchy in Feudal England King Lords Knights Peasants

Compare Feudal society Hierarchy to… A company A school Your family The Jungle Your choice…