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


[[Category:feudalism]]
== European feudalism overview ==
'''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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** "feud" is from Old English, "gefea" or "gefa" which means "enemy" or "foe"
** "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
** 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"
* "feudalism" is directly derived from the Latin ''feodum'' for "fief"
** "fief" = a grant (something given), usually land, in exchange for service
* Proto-Indo-European word origin = "'''''peku'''''" for cattle
* Proto-Indo-European word origin = "'''''peku'''''" for cattle
** Latin "pecus",  
** Latin "pecus",  
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** "vassal" comes from Celtic for "young boy" or "servant"
** "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
*** the Romans adopted the word from Celtic and called it ''vassal'', which became ''valet'' in French
* related terms
* other related terms
** '''chivalry'''
**'''chivalry'''
*** from cheval
***the code of conduct of knights and their sense of honor
** '''knight'''
*** from the French, "cheval" for "horse, giving us the words ''chivalry'' and c''hevalier''
** '''clergy'''
** '''court/ courtly manners'''
**'''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'''
***English term for a person granted a title, in the feudal context, for warfare
***from Old English, "''cniht''" which originally meant "boy" or "servant" (the "hard c" was pronounces, thus "k-n-icht"
***"knight" and its present meaning and pronunciation was introduced into English after the Norman Invasion of 1066 AD
***so the importance of a knight is not just the military ability but the title and fealty
**'''manor'''
**'''serf/ serfdom'''
**
== 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, 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 ===
* prior to the 800s AD, Frankish elites and rulers rode to battle by horseback, but fought on the ground
** Charles Martel is often depicted fighting on horseback, but his army was infantry with tactics specifically designed to defeat the lightly armored Umayyad calvary at the Battle of Tours in 732
* into the 700s, the Franks adopted the stirrup, which enabled development of "heavy calvary" capable of fighting on horseback
** 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)
* early armor was chain mail (linked wires to protect against slashes and punctures)
* into the late 1300s, knights added "plate armor" over their chain mail and, later, for their horses, for additional protection and power
** development of the crossbow and lances made chain mail alone ineffective
** thus the prototypical horse-mounted, "armored knight," which was the equivalent of a modern tank, did not arise until the late feudal period
 
=== From knights to feudalism ===
 
* equipment and horses of the knights were very expensive and required extensive training, thus created an elite status for knights
* 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'''"
* knights were especially useful to kings because, due to their effectiveness, they negated the need for a "standing" (permanent, professional) army
** until the 1400s, French armies were made up of off-season farmers who could only fight outside of their agricultural duties
*** farmers made up 80+% of Medieval European populations
** the first professional army in England was organized under Oliver Cromwell in 1645 during the English Civil War with the "New Model Army" (see [https://www.school4schools.com/wiki/index.php?title=US_History_timeline_%26_concept_chart:_16th-18th_centuries_(to_1754)_British-American_colonies#The_Commonwealth_.28or_Interregnum.29_.26_Charles_Cromwell US History outline#Charles Cromwell])
 
*


== Origins ==
=== Agricultural Revolution ===


* Ancient Rome
* several technologies and agricultural practices led to a tremendous increase in crop yields in Europe starting around AD 900
** in exchange for some service, the Romans would grant a ''beneficium'', which was a property, title or privilege
** which led to population increases
*** the words "benefit" and "beneficial" a derived from ''beneficium''
** which led to growth of feudal manors
** a ''precaria'' was a temporary land grant that had few obligations
* "three field" system (see Manor system for more) yielded more crops
*** for example, to give someone land that needed to be cleared for farming
* iron technologies
*** ownership of the ''precaria'' would revert to the landlord upon death of the tenant
** iron horse collars and shoes made them more effective
*** since the obligations were loose, the ''precaria'' was not a secure grant, thus the word "precarious", which means "uncertain" or "dangerous"
** iron plows
*** '''''tenant''''' = someone who lives on land owned by someone else
* these skills all contributed to efficient and expert development of weapons of war for knights
* Frankish kingdoms of France
*  
*  
== Feudal manor economy ==


==Summary Questions==
==Summary Questions==
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* How did Europe come out of feudalism and develop trade?
* How did Europe come out of feudalism and develop trade?
* What is the lasting impact of feudalism on modern Europe?
* What is the lasting impact of feudalism on modern Europe?
[[Category:feudalism]]
[[Category:World History]]
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