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[[Category:feudalism]]
[[Category:feudalism]]
'''Feudal Europe, European feudalism or "feudalism"'''  
'''"Feudal Europe", "European feudalism" or "feudalism"'''  


== '''European feudalism overview''' ==
== European feudalism overview ==


* largely from the 9th to 15th centuries
* largely from the 9th to 15th centuries
** not a uniform system across place and time
** not a uniform system across place and time
** for example, feudalism arose in England after the Norman invasion of 1066, but it existed in France since the AD 800s
** for example, feudalism arose in England after the Norman invasion of 1066, but it existed in France since the AD 800s
* generally a system of shared power between and among a hierarchy of authorities
* generally, a system of shared power between and among a hierarchy of authorities
** as in, knights, lords, vassals
** as in, knights, lords, vassals
** can be thought of as "chains" of allegiances and duties and obligations  
** can be thought of as "chains" of allegiances and duties and obligations
* feudal systems are an important contributing origin to today's parliamentary governments in Europe


== Etymology & vocabulary of feudalism ==
== Etymology & vocabulary of feudalism ==
Line 49: Line 50:
*** the Romans adopted the word from Celtic and called it ''vassal'', which became ''valet'' in French
*** the Romans adopted the word from Celtic and called it ''vassal'', which became ''valet'' in French
* related terms
* related terms
** '''chivalry'''
**'''chivalry'''
*** from cheval
*** from cheval
** '''knight'''
** '''fealty'''
*** for "in fee" which means what is due to the lord in exchange for a grant (usually of land but also of offices, trade rights, etc.) to a vassal
**'''knight'''


== Origins ==
== Origins ==


* Ancient Rome
=== Ancient Roman "beneficium" ===
** in exchange for some service, the Romans would grant a ''beneficium'', which was a property, title or privilege
* in exchange for some service, the Romans would grant a '''''beneficium''''', which was a property, title or privilege
*** the words "benefit" and "beneficial" a derived from ''beneficium''
** the words "benefit" and "beneficial" a derived from ''beneficium''
** a ''precaria'' was a temporary land grant that had few obligations
* a '''''precaria''''' was a temporary land grant that had few obligations
*** for example, to give someone land that needed to be cleared for farming  
** for example, to give someone land that needed to be cleared for farming
*** ownership of the ''precaria'' would revert to the landlord upon death of the tenant
** ownership of the ''precaria'' would revert to the landlord upon death of the tenant
*** since the obligations were loose, the ''precaria'' was not a secure grant, thus the word "precarious", which means "uncertain" or "dangerous"
** since the obligations were loose, the ''precaria'' was not a secure grant, thus the word "precarious", which means "uncertain" or "dangerous"
*** '''''tenant''''' = someone who lives on land owned by someone else
**'''''tenant''''' = someone who lives on land owned by someone else
* Frankish kingdoms of France
 
=== Frankish kingdoms of France, 481-843 AD ===
* also known as "Francia," "Kingdom of the Franks", or "Frankish Empire"
** Frankish kingdoms were the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties
*** Franks were Germanic tribes which ruled much of Europe, centered around modern France, following the collapse of the Roman Empire
* under Charles Martel ("Charles the Hammer") land grants became a dominant form of alliance building
* the practice developed into feudalism under the subsequent Frankish kingdoms starting in the AD 800s
** as result of extensive conquests that required hierarchical control
* however, with the collapse of the Frankish Empire in 843,following Charlemagne's death
** the empire was divided into three main kingdoms
** the Capetian Dynasty arose in 987 (by Hugh Capet)
** maintained control over France by sharing power with local lords
 
=== From stirrups to knights ===
* around the 700s, the Franks adopted the stirrup, which enabled small calvaries that could easily defeat infantry
* the stirrup enabled the rider to wield swords and other weapons (lances were enabled by advances in saddles but their development followed skills and tactics developed using stirrups)
* horses and riders began to add armor for protection and additional power
* thus creating the prototypical horse-mounted, armored knight, which was the equivalent of a modern tank
 
=== From knights to feudalism ===
 
* equipment and horses of the knights were very expensive and required extensive training
* knights began to take on not just military but social, economic and political power
* local lords began the practice of granting land to knights in exchange for military service and allegiance
* as knights gained power, wealth, and property, they employed peasants to manage their lands and farms
** these properties were known as "'''fiefs'''"
 
*  
*  
=== Agricultural Revolution ===
>> to do


==Summary Questions==
==Summary Questions==

Revision as of 18:10, 12 November 2021

"Feudal Europe", "European feudalism" or "feudalism"

European feudalism overview[edit | edit source]

  • largely from the 9th to 15th centuries
    • not a uniform system across place and time
    • for example, feudalism arose in England after the Norman invasion of 1066, but it existed in France since the AD 800s
  • generally, a system of shared power between and among a hierarchy of authorities
    • as in, knights, lords, vassals
    • can be thought of as "chains" of allegiances and duties and obligations
  • feudal systems are an important contributing origin to today's parliamentary governments in Europe

Etymology & vocabulary of feudalism[edit | edit source]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

  • the noun "feudalism" is a modern invention (18th century)
    • Adam Smith discusses the "feudal system" in his "Wealth of Nations"
  • during the "feudal" period, people did not refer to themselves as living under feudalism
    • the word "feudal" may have been used, but as an adjective not a noun
  • "feudalism" is unrelated to the word, "feud"
    • "feud" is from Old English, "gefea" or "gefa" which means "enemy" or "foe"
    • however, "feud" is easy for students to remember "feudalism" in terms of a system of allies and enemies
  • most directly derived from the Latin feodum for "fief"
  • Proto-Indo-European word origin = "peku" for cattle
    • Latin "pecus",
    • Old German, "fehu", Old English "feoh"
      • these languages shifted "P" to "F", as in the Latin "pater" > to English "father"
    • see Indo-European word origins
  • the Roman term "beneficium" (for a grant of land or rights; see "Origins" section below)
    • starting in AD 984, Medieval writers began to use Latin "feudum" instead of "beneficium" in reference to grants
  • in the Medieval system, property could be used as a form of exchange instead of money or gold
    • thus the ancient word for cattle, "pecu", which became in Frankish, "fehu", was used with "od" which meant "goods"
    • fehu-od" = an exchange or payment with property instead of money
      • cattle, horses, clothing, arms, etc.
      • which became "feos"
  • so "feudalism" is derived from the exchange of goods and services

Vocabulary[edit | edit source]

  • the primary words of feudalism are "fief," "lord" and "vassal"
    • fief = land or rights granted to a "vassal" by an overlord (higher rank), generally heritable (passed on by hereditary birth)
    • lord = a person holding authority over certain people and places
      • in England, the word "lord" became the title "Lord" (as in the House of Lords in Parliament)
  • vassal = a person who owes allegiance, duty, taxes, and homage (an oath of submission and/or a public respect) to another person of higher rank
    • vassals were generally knights, who acquired their own fiefs with peasants to work the land for them
    • "vassal" comes from Celtic for "young boy" or "servant"
      • the Romans adopted the word from Celtic and called it vassal, which became valet in French
  • related terms
    • chivalry
      • from cheval
    • fealty
      • for "in fee" which means what is due to the lord in exchange for a grant (usually of land but also of offices, trade rights, etc.) to a vassal
    • knight

Origins[edit | edit source]

Ancient Roman "beneficium"[edit | edit source]

  • in exchange for some service, the Romans would grant a beneficium, which was a property, title or privilege
    • the words "benefit" and "beneficial" a derived from beneficium
  • a precaria was a temporary land grant that had few obligations
    • for example, to give someone land that needed to be cleared for farming
    • ownership of the precaria would revert to the landlord upon death of the tenant
    • since the obligations were loose, the precaria was not a secure grant, thus the word "precarious", which means "uncertain" or "dangerous"
    • tenant = someone who lives on land owned by someone else

Frankish kingdoms of France, 481-843 AD[edit | edit source]

  • also known as "Francia," "Kingdom of the Franks", or "Frankish Empire"
    • Frankish kingdoms were the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties
      • Franks were Germanic tribes which ruled much of Europe, centered around modern France, following the collapse of the Roman Empire
  • under Charles Martel ("Charles the Hammer") land grants became a dominant form of alliance building
  • the practice developed into feudalism under the subsequent Frankish kingdoms starting in the AD 800s
    • as result of extensive conquests that required hierarchical control
  • however, with the collapse of the Frankish Empire in 843,following Charlemagne's death
    • the empire was divided into three main kingdoms
    • the Capetian Dynasty arose in 987 (by Hugh Capet)
    • maintained control over France by sharing power with local lords

From stirrups to knights[edit | edit source]

  • around the 700s, the Franks adopted the stirrup, which enabled small calvaries that could easily defeat infantry
  • the stirrup enabled the rider to wield swords and other weapons (lances were enabled by advances in saddles but their development followed skills and tactics developed using stirrups)
  • horses and riders began to add armor for protection and additional power
  • thus creating the prototypical horse-mounted, armored knight, which was the equivalent of a modern tank

From knights to feudalism[edit | edit source]

  • equipment and horses of the knights were very expensive and required extensive training
  • knights began to take on not just military but social, economic and political power
  • local lords began the practice of granting land to knights in exchange for military service and allegiance
  • as knights gained power, wealth, and property, they employed peasants to manage their lands and farms
    • these properties were known as "fiefs"

Agricultural Revolution[edit | edit source]

>> to do

Summary Questions[edit | edit source]

  • How was feudalism a response to social, economic, and political collapse?
  • How does the "manor system" relate to feudalism?
  • Why was there no major plague under feudalism?
  • How is it that feudalism is orderly but does not bring unity?
  • How did the feudal system bring order to medieval Europe?
  • How did Europe come out of feudalism and develop trade?
  • What is the lasting impact of feudalism on modern Europe?