![]() ![]() Though not in practice today, feudalism and the legends it inspired continue to fascinate many people. Its informal and varied methods required a balance between superiors and dependents, rights and responsibilities. Feudalism relied on personal and/or family honor as well as self–interest to work. In all cases, a parallel code of values and aesthetics-chivalry in the West, bushido in the East-complemented and reinforced the system. In both cases, feudalism grew out of practice and precedents. In some places it filled the void left by other political organizations in others, it represented the next stage in the evolution of government. This system, based on personal relationships, local administration, and defined hierarchies, touched several continents for more than 1,500 years. Major figures William the Conqueror Eleanor of Aquitaineįew political systems have shown the adaptiveness and longevity of feudalism. Who controls distribution of goods? Nobility Who controls production of goods? Nobility What roles do the people have? Work for nobles' benefit For these reasons, feudalism in Europe came to an end.How is government put into power? Birth feudal contract The invention of printing machine and the progress of education changed the outlook of the people who relegated feudalism to distant background. The use of gun-powder made the King more powerful and the feudal Lords could not be a match to them. When there was a shortage of people to perform cultivation work, the feudal Lords were compelled to resort to rearing of sheep. The great Plague took a heavy total of life in the area stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Baltic Ocean. ![]() When the lot of the cities improved through trade and commerce, they paid back money to the feudal Lords and became free from them. So, the necessity of feudal Lords was not felt in the society. The Kings increased their power and gave protection to their subjects. In due course of time, Feudalism lost its relevance for the European countries. In some places, instead of the word ‘fief, the word ‘Feud’ was used from which the term ‘Feudalism’ was derived. The Lord gave back the plot of land known as Tier to his vassal. The people who sought his protection were called the ‘Vassals’ or ‘Liege-men’. The protector was variously known as the ‘Lord’, ‘Liege Lord’, ‘Suzerain’ or ‘Seignior’. So, the common people turned to strong and powerful leaders who were mostly the descendants of the Dukes, Counts and Margraves to make their life and property safe. He could not save his subjects from the plunders of the foreign invaders. In medieval Europe, the weak and innocent people needed the help of a powerful man. The Basic Principles of Feudalism:įeudalism was based on certain principles. Feudalism exerted its influence in the entire medieval Europe. ![]() With the expansion of the Frankish Kingdom, feudalism spread to Italy, Spain, Germany and other Countries. feudalism appeared in the Prankish Kingdom where a bond was created between the ruler and his supporters. In this system the young fighters engaged themselves in the service of a powerful leader and performed their duty as per the instruction of that leader. This system was reflected through the procedure of Comitatus. This system prevailed in Roman Society in which the weaker section appealed to the rich people to save them from peril and showed allegience to their masters. Ancient Greece witnessed this situation during the ‘Age of Homer’. ![]() This situation arose in Egypt after the end of the ‘Old Kingdom’. In other words, feudalism was a part of the feudal society where the subordinate subjects showed loyalty to their Lords and obtained from them a piece of land there by serving their master, in various ways seeking protection from them for their life and property. Feudalism was a kind of socio-political organisation which arose in medieval Europe and was based on land tenure given by the Lord to the Vassels, who served their masters in varous ways. ![]()
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