Feudalism: what it is, stages and characteristics.

We explain how was the typical organization system of the Middle Ages in the West.

Feudalism is an important part of the history of social organizations in the West.. As such, these organizations are made up of political and economic elements that are complexly and closely related to the social structure. That is, there are hierarchies where one or more modes of production are related to social superstructures such as politics or the state.

In the case of the feudal system, what is found in the background is the intention to ensure the survival of the warrior caste. For this, it will be the peasants or serfs who will bear the expenses of those who fight. In medieval Europe, the latter occurs through a manorial system that organizes a complex network of loyalties and obligations in a chain of production, with the highest link being the crown and the lowest the serf.

In this article we will see what feudalism is, what are its antecedents and development, as well as some of its main characteristics.as well as some of the main characteristics.

What is feudalism?

Feudalism is the social system that dominated western Europe and its colonies during the Middle Agesspecifically from the 8th to the 15th century, and was expanded by the Carolingian dynasty.

Broadly speaking, its organization consists of the following: in exchange for an oath of fealty and military service, the king cedes a portion of land to a vassal, who is part of the nobility.

Without having the right of ownership and without the commitment to inherit the land, the vassals acquire the possibility of using and managing it. This contractual relationship is known as "vassalage" and the tribute granted in exchange for the right to the land is called "tenure". and the tribute granted in exchange for the right to the land is called "feudal tenure". The person in charge of managing this tenure and representing feudal relations is called "tenant".

The land in question was worked by peasants (called serfs), who were obliged to live on the same land and paid homage to the owner by giving him a share of the product worked. In exchange, they received the promise of military protection.

Brief history: from the Roman Empire to the final crisis.

Like all social systems, feudalism followed a historical trajectory, both economically, politically and socially. In the economic dimension this trajectory began with tribute and advanced to trade; in the political dimension it developed through a centralized monarchy, and in the social dimension it was structured by castes ranging from the clergy and the army to the bourgeoisie.and finally the bourgeoisie.

Considering that the latter developed in different ways in each territory, we will see below a review of what happened in Western Europe.

Background and development

In the 5th century the empire that had dominated Western Europe since the 1st century fell: the Roman Empire. The territory ceased to be unified and divided into the Roman Empire of the East and the Roman Empire of the West.. The former advanced culturally and intellectually at the same time as the institutionalization of Christianity, and ended with the fall of Constantinople in the 15th century.

The second was destroyed several centuries earlier, as a consequence of the barbarian invasions that allowed the final transition to the Middle Ages. This occurred after numerous wars in the 5th and 6th centuries which took place in the 5th and 6th centuries, which among other things led to an increase in the number of slaves.

Far from joining the traditional slaveholding estates that were characteristic of Roman antiquity, many of these slaves became freeholders. However, with the collapse of the estates, many of them were dispersed among the various tenancies, giving rise to serfdom. This represents one of the beginnings of feudalism.

But already in Ancient Rome, production relations based on tribute or taxation imposed by the owners of a subjected field were beginning to be generated. The most classical analysis of feudalism suggests that the latter arose from a relationship based on serfdom and coercive political authority exercised by the tenants and the lordship inaugurated in the Middle Ages as a consequence of the expansion of slavery.

However, other perspectives add that in the late Roman Empire there was already a society that was beginning to be dominated by the feudal mode of production, based on the payment in kind of a land tax, which later became a rent.which later became a rent.

The Carolingian dynasty

It was the representative of the Carolingian dynasty, Charles Martel, who at the end of the 8th century ceded certain land rights to his nobles, so that he could secure the necessary income to maintain the army. the necessary income to maintain the army..

In exchange for this, the noble or vassal would have to pay him tribute and gratitude. This exchange is called "fiefdom", and the owner is called "feudal lord".. This allows the development of a relationship between lord and vassal, as well as the expansion of the feudal pyramid.

Feudalism finally takes hold around the 10th century, while the aristocracy is in close relationship with Christianity. In this context the pope has special powers and privileges as God's representative on earth, and it is precisely the papacy that at the end of the 12th century has the largest number of feudal vassals.

Crisis and decadence

With the passing of the centuries feudalism became an abusive, rigid and very complex system. Its original structure, which used to generate a chain of loyalties and personal relationships, begins to turn into a centralized monarchy..

Among other things, fiefdoms began to be inherited, which led to the loss of the ties between vassal and lord. The religious institutions and the high clergy took administrative, economic and military power; the kings made use of the feudal organization to stay at the top of the pyramid.

In addition, the military protection that was previously granted, began to be replaced by monetary exchange.and thus opened the door to trade. The development of infantry weapons and agricultural techniques made it no longer indispensable to establish relations based on war, and allowed the establishment of relations based on economic development.

Finally, feudalism as a social, political and economic system declined as a result of armed conflicts such as the Crusades and health conflicts such as the appearance of serious diseases like plagues. In addition to this, the erosion of arable land, along with the increase in the possibilities of leasing land, gave more independence to the peasantry. gave more independence to the peasantryThe opening of new routes that generate migration and population growth.

Characteristics of this economic system

These are the main characteristics of feudalism:

1. The basis of production: agriculture

In feudalism there is a relatively low accumulation of capital, because in many social strata subsistence economy prevails. Therefore, agriculture is the basis of production, and there is no manufactured product with a very high level of sophistication or specialization (compared to today's standards).

2. No surplus is produced

Another characteristic of feudalism is that, since there is a subsistence economy, there is no surplus left in the hands of the common people. The little that is left over is confiscated by the masters of the land, and that is why there is little trade among the people.and that is why there is little trade between distant territories.

Compared to the modern era, in which the development of technology allows the automation of many tasks, this accumulation of capital does not produce an extremely high level of inequality, and social asymmetries are more political and coercive than economic.

3. Wealth is the possession of land

In feudalism, the main means of generating wealth is the possession of land, since this makes it possible to generate nuclei of wealth.In feudalism, the main means of generating wealth is the possession of land, since this allows the generation of production nuclei from what is produced in that territory. Therefore, the economy revolves around the possession of land, which is not yet speculated upon.

4. There is no social elevator

Something typical of feudalism is that each family belongs to a social class or estate, and its possibilities of moving to another of the social classes. their possibilities of moving to another of the social levels is practically nonexistent, given that the rights are assigned to each family.The rights are assigned depending on the family in which one was born.

This means that even if a family were to do very well economically, it would never be able to compete with other higher echelons in terms of power.

5. The king and the nobility need each other

In feudalism, political power is shared between the king and the nobles, and neither of these two institutions has absolute power. The king represents sovereignty and territorial union.The king represents sovereignty and territorial union, and under his reign are organized the nobles who are loyal to him; but at the same time the king depends militarily and economically on the nobles. These two estates need each other.

Bibliographical references:

• Gat, A. (2006). War in Human Civilization, New York: Oxford University Press.
• History World. (S/A). History of feudalism. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
• Karl, F. (2010) The Futile Paradigm: In Quest of Feudalism in Early Medieval Japan. History Compass 8.2: 179 - 196.
• Wickham, C. (1989). The other transition: from the ancient world to feudalism. Studia historica. Medieval History. 7: 7-36.