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Feudal Europe: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:feudalism]] | [[Category:feudalism]] | ||
'''Feudal Europe, European feudalism or "feudalism"''' | '''"Feudal Europe", "European feudalism" or "feudalism"''' | ||
== | == 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 == | ||
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*** 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 Roman "beneficium" === | |||
* 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 | |||
=== 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== | ||