feudalism in medieval times
Feudalism can be defined in many ways. In the Merriam Webster dictionary, feudalism is defined as the political organization prevailing in Europe that relates to the lord and the vassal. Another way feudalism could be defined is as a social system during the Middle Ages where people worked and fought for nobles, who would repay them by giving them protection and use of their land. Feudalism is basically the system of landholding and governing. This is how it worked:
Feudalism was depended on the obligations and rights of others. It was actually a two-sided bargain where the landowner (which was sometimes called the lord) of the manor would give his land, or fief to someone in trade for protection and other military services. The person receiving the fief was called a vassal. A vassal could be anyone at all, as long as you're the one recieving fief. A lord, however, was the landowner. He was in charge everything in the manor including the fief. Fief was not just regular land, but land in particular that was obligated to be given to a vassal.
However, there were many disadvantages of feudalism such as peasants, who had to give up almost all they had, just to keep their homes, and continue working on the lord's land. They also were compelled to pay taxes just adding on to their hardship. Serfs had no rights to independence at all. They weren't even allowed to leave the place they were born! When it came to legal matters, the church officials and lords were in charge.
Although feudalism ended a long time ago in Midieval Europe, it actually could still work today. This is because, if you think about it, we actually have similarities to feudalism today. The federal government is the highest body in governing our country with President Obama in charge, which is as the position of the feudal king. Next is the State government which is second most powerful governing body just as the lords second in command after the feudal king. Third is the county government which plays a huge role in our admistrative laws, but less on effect on governing as the federal government does as Knights who play a huge role in the feudal system. Last is city government. Just as peasants do work in feudal society, so every person has a role in city government. City government plays a small role in governing the whole country and a large role in governing the town.
Another reason feudalism could actually work today is because in America you don't really own property. Even though you bought the home, it is still not completely yours. You still must pay taxes to the government. If you rent a home from an owner, then you must pay rent to him/her. However, if you purchased a home, and claim you own it, you still must pay morgage to the bank. For example: in Riverside, California, if you don't pay your taxes on time, your home will be placed on auction and offered on sale to anyone else.
Feudalism was depended on the obligations and rights of others. It was actually a two-sided bargain where the landowner (which was sometimes called the lord) of the manor would give his land, or fief to someone in trade for protection and other military services. The person receiving the fief was called a vassal. A vassal could be anyone at all, as long as you're the one recieving fief. A lord, however, was the landowner. He was in charge everything in the manor including the fief. Fief was not just regular land, but land in particular that was obligated to be given to a vassal.
- There were four classes of feudalism in medieval times. They are the king, next tier was the lord or baron, at the next tier was the Knights, and last was the peasants. At the first tier was the king. The king was the one who owned all the land in the country, and was in complete control of who leased the land, and who he will trust to use it. Before leasing land, the king will first make the lord swear an oath of loyalty at all times, so that he wouldn't be robbed or fooled.
- Second tier consisted of the barons (which were sometimes called "lord", "nobles" or "nobleman." These people received land from the king, and in return would give the king money for rent, Knights when he needed, and would serve in the royal council. When given lease or use of land from the king, they were in charge of such land, called a manor. They gave land (called fief) to Knights in exchange for protection for their families and military service. These barons were rich landholders for the king.
- The third tier, or class of the feudal system were the knights. Knights were the ones who defend the manor, and protected the barons and their family. They also helped the king when demanded. They also provided military service towards them. They did this in exchange for land, food and shelter for their families. Knights gave land to peasants and serfs. They weren't rich as barons and kings, but they also weren't poor as peasants and serfs.
- At the last tier are the peasants and serfs. They were the poor people in feudal society. They didn't have land, and couldn't own it. Peasants and serfs worked in the lord's manor in exchange for fief, housing and farmland. They cared for the animals tended the land, and did other works in order to help maintain the lord's estate. Not all peasant were serfs, but all serfs were peasants. Serfs were people who were bound to the manor. They could not legally escape or leave the place which they had been born. they weren't slaves of the lord, he couldn't buy or sell them. However, all their forced labour were for the lord.
However, there were many disadvantages of feudalism such as peasants, who had to give up almost all they had, just to keep their homes, and continue working on the lord's land. They also were compelled to pay taxes just adding on to their hardship. Serfs had no rights to independence at all. They weren't even allowed to leave the place they were born! When it came to legal matters, the church officials and lords were in charge.
Although feudalism ended a long time ago in Midieval Europe, it actually could still work today. This is because, if you think about it, we actually have similarities to feudalism today. The federal government is the highest body in governing our country with President Obama in charge, which is as the position of the feudal king. Next is the State government which is second most powerful governing body just as the lords second in command after the feudal king. Third is the county government which plays a huge role in our admistrative laws, but less on effect on governing as the federal government does as Knights who play a huge role in the feudal system. Last is city government. Just as peasants do work in feudal society, so every person has a role in city government. City government plays a small role in governing the whole country and a large role in governing the town.
Another reason feudalism could actually work today is because in America you don't really own property. Even though you bought the home, it is still not completely yours. You still must pay taxes to the government. If you rent a home from an owner, then you must pay rent to him/her. However, if you purchased a home, and claim you own it, you still must pay morgage to the bank. For example: in Riverside, California, if you don't pay your taxes on time, your home will be placed on auction and offered on sale to anyone else.