Feudalism and the Feudal System - Assignment Example

 Feudalism and the Feudal System Feudalism was a set of customs that developed in Europe after the fall of the roman authorities. The system was structured around relationships derived from the holding of the land in exchange for service. “Who commends himself to the power of another” (Cheyney 23). The legal and military obligation and the corresponding rights between the lord and vassal formed the basis of the relationship. Feudalism developed when the central authority cannot perform its function and cannot prevent the rise of local governments. Development of new economic status was in such a manner that the vassals were under lords who were responsible for collecting taxes for the king. This led to formation of feudal great council which has evolved into great national assemblies’ i.e. county assemblies and parliaments. Feudalism was developed based on a military hierarchy where by a ruler offered a mounted warrior or fighter a unit of the land to control in exchange for military services. The land would be inherited by the vassal son who would later join the service of the military government. Insecurity in military Semi-independent provided local defense to the vassal and government at large. Feudalism was realistic adaptation to existing circumstances which were flexible workable compromise in that it was just flexible enough on the one hand and conservative on the other to surmount contemporary challenges yet allow for future reunification. Also feudalism provided military proficiency which helped spread its colonies and civilization over the world. Decentralization of government has had its challenges or negative impacts. The local government lacked enough revenue to provide all the required services to the public facilities usually roads and bridges were inadequately maintained while excessive tolls and duties were collected. excessive emphasis were placed upon personal relationship and thus neglecting personal welfare and thus the components of the body politic were loosely bound together by oaths with minimum firm of enforceable obligations. Confusion frequently prevailed, private wars were common and commerce was severely handicapped. The strict separation and segregation of the social classes served only to hinder the development of its society and prevented culture from developing since less people were educated and there was absence of meritocracy. Exchanging land grant for loyalties by vassals limited them to farming and they were only responsible for taking care of the nobleman. Also high taxation of the peasant unlike the noble discouraged unified government since the noble took advantage of the peasants by oppressing them other than helping them gain their own independence. The decentralization of governance and exchange of land grant for loyalty discouraged trade in that the peasants were tied only to farming and they were denied rights to change occupation without permission of the duke or lord. The peasants were denied to set up their own roads and as such they were supposed to use the roads setup by their masters and in return they were to pay certain fee. The forceful conversion of Christians and long wars impacted negatively to the culture of Europeans during the medieval age. “They were brought to accept the terms of the king, agreeing to abandon their pagan faith and accept Christianity”. (Thatcher and McNeal, 1905). The pagan converts felt that they were being oppressed and forced to accept a new faith hence resulting in rebellion. The advantages of the medieval ages were much more promising as compared to the negative impacts of feudalism. Feudalism helped in clearly defining the roles played by different people in the community as per the signing of the agreement. The noblemen and the knights were usually concerned with the security and safety of the territory while the peasants were only concerned with farming. This led to a more organized system of governance as compared to the government where people lived without any defined role. In general feudalism helped to solve the problems experienced during the medieval ages. CH 8 QUES 1 In the eleventh and twelfth century Europe gained new dynamism such that the population increases so high that the growth expansion continued until the early thirteenth century. Though most historians believed that this age was marked by little growth the sources suggests that the middle age was marked by immense changes which includes internal expansion which involved increased clearing and farming which has revived and transformed the commerce and industry, creation of governmental institutions. In the middle ages there was no clear distinction between the papacy and secular authority and therefore the papacy under the great rule of Gregory brought reforms to the office and this created a conflict between the papacy and the emperor who at that time had the power to appoint people to the office. “Gregory pontificate who brought the reforming spirit to his office soon came into conflict with the emperor over who had the right to appoint people to high offices in the church” (Robinson 274). The conflict between the church and state continued well until the twelfth century and the struggle for power saw the papacy face great deal of competition for power with great authorities i.e. kings princes and cities who want wield the authority of the government. The development growth of industry and commerce involved a number of individuals who started with little and amass considerable wealth over the years. The merchant played a major role in shaping the expansion of the industry by mainly signing cooperation or monopolizing the trade. The social life of the people changed as evident from the building of settlement in undesired areas which required clearing and cultivation unlike before where people preferred settling in old romans roads. The growth of settlements in the black forest in the twelfth century marked the beginning of much more settlement which were planned and carried out by the dukes. The middle age was also marked by internal expansion of Europe as shown by the four maps, and this influenced both commercial and geographical which played a role in motivating the political patterns in Europe. This age was also characterized by the external expansion of Europe and Christendom as both external and internal expansion complimented each other and provided general dynamism of the middle ages and some of the connection between demographic growth, commercial activity, political consolidation and military assertiveness. The maps revealed both the expansion of civilization and how the expansion occurred and also the difference between the early and high Middle Ages. The growth of towns and cities marked a new dynamism in the civilization in Europe and the main cause of the growth was the revival of commerce where the medieval merchant played a central role. CH 10 QUES 2 The era middle ages was accompanied by several changes which went on until the thirteen century and were marked by the growth of towns which marked new dynamism and revival of commerce. The commerce continued to thrive since cities, merchants and artisans were organizing their own institution reflecting the growing power and permanency. The formation of guild by the medieval merchants in towns was a way of developing an independent organization that monopolized commerce and played an important role the society. Increased trade and corresponding growth of towns dependent on trade created common problems encouraging some cities to make cooperative agreements which occurred mostly in commercial areas where the authorities were relatively weak. The authorities believed that signing cooperation agreements was perceived as principal was one of the ways threat to the independence of the towns. Furthermore the middle age came with the challenge of forced labor as women were not that rich or wealth they forced to work as chambermaids and they were responsible for doing the heaviest and foulest work while being fed on coarse food and cladded in rags. The reliance on agriculture, the contrast between the classes and large castle which symbolized military prowess and status remained evident in the medieval life. The shift to the northern lands for cultivation due to improved climate in Western Europe, and the widespread use and perfection of new farming devices increased the agricultural production. Technological innovations include the use of the heavy plow, the three-field system of crop rotation, the use of mills for processing cloth, brewing beer, crushing pulp for paper manufacture and many other advantages that before were not available, and the widespread use of iron and horses. With an increase in agricultural advancements, Western towns and trade grow exponentially and Western Europe returns to a money economy. The period from 1050 to 1300 is generally considered the High Middle Ages. Western Europe rises as a great power with only China equaling it in political, economic and cultural flourishing. It also witnesses profound religious and intellectual change, including the organization of the papal monarchy. The growth of cities and towns created typical urban problems. The cities and urban places were often considered a place of fear and violence. “The history of the cities of western Europe is a shot through with episodes of violence, fear and revolution” (Jacques Rossiaud) the violent acts were committed by youth and adult men and usually they used crude weapons. Justice did not inspire the urban residence hence the individual turned immediately into vengeance. Moreover violence caused anxiety among the rich in the urban neighborhood. Demographically the medieval expansion ended in mid-thirteenth century and the factors that “hindered the economic changes include both social and political effects which usually shapes and stemmed the economic changes”. (David Herlihy). Stagnation of technology is also another characteristic of this age. CH 11 QUES1 The fourteenth and fifteenth century was termed as a period of decline of the middle ages and certain development in this era supported the description. A series of famines due to poor harvests, plaques and diseases significantly reduce the population to around half of what it was before the disaster had rapidly increased during the high middle ages. Along with depopulation the European expansion temporarily ended due to politically unending conflict which led to unusual intense period of war and social unrest. England and France experienced serious peasant uprisings: the Jacquerie, the Peasants' Revolt, as well as over a century of intermittent conflict in the Hundred Years' War. To further devastate the situation in Europe, “the unity of the Catholic Church was shattered by the great Western Schism” (James Harvey Robinson) and collectively these events are sometimes termed as the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages. Religiously the church suffered from increasing conflict with the powerful monarchies whilst the church itself became divided during the great schism and the papacy threatened to revolt from its own high clergy. The Catholic Church became divide and each competing pope claiming authority thus ruling simultaneously. In effort to end schism the church developed a conciliar movement in an effort to reduce the power of the pope and place authority in the hands of a general church. The great schism was ended by the election of a single pope. Also the late middle age was characterized by rebellion of peasant and artisans and this threatened the upper class before but was crushed and its leaders executed. The peasants led by John Ball who played a major role in exciting the unrest and rebellion complained of their oppression while providing services to the noble men. “My good friends, matters cannot go well in England until all things shall be in common; when there shall be neither vassals nor lords”. The devastating plague in the middle of fourteenth century that swept across Europe killed almost half of the population and those surviving were left with long lasting life effects. According to Giovanni Boccaccio the major cause of population loses was the fact that most of the doctors or specialist neither knew the malady or the cure. “To the cure of this malady neither medical knowledge nor the powers of the power of drugs was of any effect; whether because the disease was in its own nature mortal or that the physicians could not form just an idea of the cause”. (Boccaccio, 1903) CH 10 QUES 2 The era middle ages was accompanied by several changes which went on until the thirteen century and were marked by the growth of towns which marked new dynamism and revival of commerce. The commerce continued to thrive since cities, merchants and artisans were organizing their own institution reflecting the growing power and permanency. The formation of guild by the medieval merchants in towns was a way of developing an independent organization that monopolized commerce and played an important role the society. Increased trade and corresponding growth of towns dependent on trade created common problems encouraging some cities to make cooperative agreements which occurred mostly in commercial areas where the authorities were relatively weak. The authorities believed that signing cooperation agreements was perceived as principal was one of the ways threat to the independence of the towns. Furthermore the middle age came with the challenge of forced labor as women were not that rich or wealth they forced to work as chambermaids and they were responsible for doing the heaviest and foulest work while being fed on coarse food and cladded in rags. The reliance on agriculture, the contrast between the classes and large castle which symbolized military prowess and status remained evident in the medieval life. The shift to the northern lands for cultivation, of improved climate from 700 to 1200 in western Europe, an d the widespread use and perfection of new farming devices, some previously discovered by the Carolingians and the Romans. Technological innovations include the use of the heavy plow, the three-field system of crop rotation, the use of mills for processing cloth, brewing beer, crushing pulp for paper manufacture and many other advantages that before were not available, and the widespread use of iron and horses. With an increase in agricultural advancements, Western towns and trade grow exponentially and Western Europe returns to a money economy. The period from 1050 to 1300 is generally considered the High Middle Ages. Western Europe rises as a great power with only China equaling it in political, economic and cultural flourishing. It also witnesses profound religious and intellectual change, including the organization of the papal monarchy. The growth of cities and towns created typical urban problems. The cities and urban places were often considered a place of fear and violence. Jacques Rossiaud “the history of the cities of western Europe is a shot through with episodes of violence, fear and revolution” the violent acts were committed by youth and adult men and usually they used crude weapons. Justice did not inspire the urban residence hence the individual turned immediately into vengeance. Moreover violence caused anxiety among the rich in the urban neighborhood. Demographically the medieval expansion ended in mid-thirteenth century and the factors that hindered the economic changes include both social and political effects which usually shape and stemmed the economic changes. Stagnation of technology CH 11 QUES1 The fourteenth and fifteenth century was termed as a period of decline of the middle ages and certain development in this era supported the description. A series of famines due to poor harvests, plaques and diseases significantly reduce the population to around half of what it was before the disaster had rapidly increased during the high middle ages. Along with depopulation the European expansion temporarily ended due to politically unending conflict which led to unusual intense period of war and social unrest. England and France experienced serious peasant uprisings: the Jacquerie, the Peasants' Revolt, as well as over a century of intermittent conflict in the Hundred Years' War. To further devastate the situation in Europe, the unity of the Catholic Church was shattered by the great Western Schism and collectively these events are sometimes termed as the Crisis of the Late Middle Ages. Religiously the church suffered from increasing conflict with the powerful monarchies whilst the church itself became divided during the great schism and the papacy threatened to revolt from its own high clergy. The Catholic Church became divide and each competing pope claiming authority thus ruling simultaneously. In effort to end schism the church developed a conciliar movement in an effort to reduce the power of the pope and place authority in the hands of a general church. The great schism was ended by the election of a single pope. Also the late middle age was characterized by rebellion of peasant and artisans and this threatened the upper class before but was crushed and its leaders executed. The peasants led by John Ball who played a major role in exciting the unrest and rebellion complained of their oppression while providing services to the noble men. “My good friends, matters cannot go well in England until all things shall be in common; when there shall be neither vassals nor lords”. The devastating plague in the middle of fourteenth century that swept across Europe killed almost half of the population and those surviving were left with long lasting life effects. According to Giovanni Boccaccio the major cause of population loses was the fact that most of the doctors or specialist neither knew the malady or the cure. “To the cure of this malady neither medical knowledge nor the powers of the power of drugs was of any effect; whether because the disease was in its own nature mortal or that the physicians could not form just an idea of the cause”. Work cited James H. Robinson, ed, Readings in European History, (Boston: Ginn, 1904) R.W. Southern, The Making of the Middle Ages, (New Haven CT: Yale University Press) Giovanni Boccaccio The Decameron in the stories of Boccaccio (London: Bibliophilist Library 1903) James Harvey Robinson ed “The Pre-Reformation Period” in Translations from the Original John Kelly The Great Mortality (New York Haper Collins 2005) Anonymous, “The Wanderer,” Trans .E.Talbot Donaldson, in the Norton Anthology of English Literature, 4th ed. Edward P. Cheyney,ed “Documents Illustrative of Feudalism (Philadelphia : university of Pennsylvania press 1989) Oliver J. Thatcher and Edgar H. McNeals A Source Book for Medieval History (New York: Scribers 1905) David Herlihy and “Ecological Conditions and Demographic Change” (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974) Read More