Development of the Feudal System
The Fall of Rome
In 410 C.E., Germanic tribes attacked and looted Rome. Instability and poverty increased dramatically throughout the empire until finally, in 476 C.E., the last emperor of Rome was driven from his throne and the empire melted away until all that was left were small, scattered kingdoms that were often in conflict with each other. Without a true ruler, bedlam was spread throughout Western Europe, with no sense of authority or well-being whatsoever. As power dissolved, a need for order began to evolve. With virtually no system and an abundance of chaos, the people of former Rome needed a new structure to turn to. And so, feudalism blossomed.
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The Rise of Feudalism
During the early days of the medieval time period, things were still falling into place. One of the first rulers of the early Middle Ages was a man named Clovis. Ruling in 481 C.E., he was part of a powerful group called the Franks. This group, unlike many before them, grew to be formidable enemies because of their newly-developed type of warfare - the knight. These men wore heavy armor and rode on horseback into battle, and when assembled into their cohorts they were an adroit group. Then, in 768 C.E., another man, called Charlemagne ("Charles the Great"), took over as king. Ruling for forty years, Charlemagne unified much of Christian Europe into a single empire. In addition, he continued the Frank tradition of rewarding knights with land and privileges in return for their loyalty and service. Being closely associated with the Catholic pope allowed Charlemagne to have religious power, and when he was crowned as emperor of Holy Rome, feudalism began to flourish. Even though rulers after his death were much weaker than Charlemagne, they still paved the way to feudalism by continuing to grant land. However, Western Europe was threatened by many different groups, such as the Vikings, the Muslims, and the Magyars. Without much protection for property and population, Europe had to delve deeper into feudalism. Greater promises of land and power, across larger scales of people, were given in exchange for promises of knights during times of war. These provided much more security for medieval Europe, allowing it to grow and prosper.
Feudalism Thrives
As Europe continued to flourish, so did its social structure. Feudalism worked by knitting everyone together; when one man gave land (often known as a fief) to another, there was a promise for loyalty during later times. For example, a monarch (usually a king) would own all of the land in his kingdom and often grant some of it to lesser nobles. These lords and ladies would supply knights and warriors to the king in times of war, providing the empire with much-needed protection, and in turn they were given power, in the form of either land or a high position. Additionally, lords and ladies gave land to lesser nobles, called vassals, who also granted peasants land in return for protection. Basically, anyone with power could furnish others with land, and those who were given land would supply protection. However, some peasants who were granted land had another purpose. These people were called serfs, and they were sworn to their land. They could not leave and were seen sometimes as a sort of slave. Nevertheless, they still had rights; in paying homage to the manor's land they stayed on, they received food and protection during times of hardship. It seemed a reasonable arrangement for all, allowing different groups different things according to what level they were on.
Was This a Fair System?
This is a controversial question; there are many reasons of using feudalism that are both advantageous and unfavorable. For example, using feudalism allowed a chaotic empire to establish order in society. It also permitted a previously unprotected area to have a surfeit of competent warriors. However, this also had a flaw, as it wasn't fair to the knights that they could be just passed over by someone with more power than them. In fact, injustice to the lower classes was a huge disadvantage. People such as peasants and serfs had few rights, and there was no way for them to ever move higher in the social pyramid. Also, the choosing of an all-powerful ruler of medieval Europe was deemed unfair. Since power was basically hereditary and could only be gained through lineage in the "royal family", there were innumerable people that weren't represented in political issues. But how did the different classes differ from one another? How was the hierarchy formally set up? Read on to discover more.
By Anna K.