The Feudal System
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The Feudal System Facts
The Feudal System that existed in Medieval Western Europe was
a socio-political and economic system identified by a king’s
ownership and distribution of lands to his loyal nobles.
ORIGIN OF FEUDALISM
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The general notion of ruling based on land distribution and loyal
was used in number of civilizations prior to the Middle Ages.
Between 1046 and 256 BCE, the Zhou period of China and Edo
period of Japan from 1603 until 1868 were under this kind of
system.
It was only in the Middle Ages when the term ‘feudalism’ was
coined to define this socio-political society. According to the
Oxford English Dictionary, feudalism refers to the dominant
social system in medieval Europe, in which nobility held lands
from the crown in exchange for military service, and vassals
were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were
obliged to live on their lord’s land.
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The Feudal System Facts
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Etymologically, ‘feudalism’ was derived from the Latin terms
feudalis and feodum, which respectively mean fee and fief.
When the Germanic tribes invaded most territories of the
Roman Empire, the Franks, one of the kingdoms, were able to
manage lands through appointing earls, barons, or counts.
In 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, held all lands in England
after he successfully defeated King Harold II. Among his first
step was the seizure of all English land. While distributing much
of the land to loyal nobles who supported him in battles, William
the Conqueror retained 20% for personal use and the rest for
the church.
Bayeux Tapestry depicting the invasion of England by William the Conqueror
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In Frankish states by the 8th century, a king granted benefice or
lands to reward members of the nobility in return of service.
Moreover, the manorial system imposed in Medieval England
had its roots with the Romans in which workers were provided
with protection while living on large estates.
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The Feudal System Facts
NATURE OF FEUDALISM IN ENGLAND
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Image depicting an investiture of a
knight
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At the top of a feudal society was a
king. In 1066, William the Conqueror
became the King of England and
held all lands under his control. To
repay loyal nobles, he granted them
lands. They became the monarch’s
vassals who would in return give him
loyalty and service.
As tenants of lands, nobles would
need military service from knights to
protect the crown, again acquired by
giving off lands. In the later years of
the Medieval period, knights and
members of the nobility paid scutage
instead of military service.
Under-tenants who were members of the church and the
mobility then granted lands to peasants in exchange for labour
or rent. Peasants were categorized into serfs, villeins, freemen,
and yeoman.
To seal the relationship of the lord and vassal, acts of homage
were conducted in which the receiver of the land or fief would
swear to protect his lord, whilst protect his vassal as well.
A fief was composed of number of manors or blocks of
farmlands. A manor consisted of a demesne land or land under
the direct control of the lord, dependent land, or lands cultivated
by serfs, and free lands rented by yeomen.
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The Feudal System Facts
EFFECTS AND END OF FEUDALISM
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Among the main consequences of feudalism in Europe was the
existence of localized groups who owed loyalty to lords who
specifically held power over them.
Given that fiefs were hereditary in nature, class divide among
the nobility and peasants became permanent.
Moreover, monarchs gained political favors from the nobles with
the use of lands. A monarch could distance a noble from the
court through land as well.
In 1215, the feudal system under King John of England caused
the Barons’ Revolt, which later led to the signing of the Magna
Carta.
The feudal system was generally a relationship of reciprocal aid
which was weakened by time. Events such as the Black Death,
or spread of bubonic plague, resulted in the decline of Europe’s
population. As a result, estates were abandoned.
Payment of scutage among nobles also weakened the system.
Instead of military service, they paid coins, while the crown paid
mercenaries to protect them and join in campaigns. Another
effect of the system of coinage, instead of the crown distributing
lands, was that money was paid as a reward for loyalty.
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In 1095, the birth of the
Crusades led European
Christians to go to
foreign lands in search
of fortune, in addition to
the religious cause.
Image depicting Pope Urban II calling
the First Crusade
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The Feudal Structure
Aside from being a socio-political hierarchy, feudalism
was also an economic system that determined an
individual’s property or wealth. Using the blank structure,
complete what a feudal system looks like.
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM WORKSHEETS
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The Feudal Structure
ANSWER KEY
KING
A king grants land to nobles as a
reward for their loyalty, while the
nobles provide him with money and
knights for protection.
NOBLES
Nobles distribute lands to
knights,
in
return
for
protection.
KNIGHTS Knights
give
protection to
the peasants
and nobles.
Upon receiving protection,
peasants tilt lands and pay
nobles with rent, food, and
services.
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM WORKSHEETS
PEASANTS
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