Feudal SocietyFeudal Society

After the fall of RomeAfter the fall of Rome Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in the Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in the

West around 500 CE and the rise of the nation West around 500 CE and the rise of the nation state of the 17th century European society was state of the 17th century European society was relatively stable. relatively stable.

Part of reason for the stability was the structure Part of reason for the stability was the structure of society. The keystone of the structure was of society. The keystone of the structure was feudalism.feudalism.

DefinitionsDefinitions Feudalism was the social system in which Feudalism was the social system in which

Western European society functioned. It was a Western European society functioned. It was a mix of obligations and understandings between mix of obligations and understandings between the various stratified groups.the various stratified groups.

Manorial System was the economic system Manorial System was the economic system centred on the Fief or holding. centred on the Fief or holding.

Top DogTop Dog Kings: Kings:

Top of the pyramids Top of the pyramids and ultimate arbitrator and ultimate arbitrator in any dispute. in any dispute.

However, their ability However, their ability to influence contrary to influence contrary noblemen was limited noblemen was limited as they had no forces as they had no forces to make them obey. to make them obey.

The Not So NobleThe Not So Noble Nobles: Nobles:

This was never a This was never a homogenous group as homogenous group as nobility was ranked nobility was ranked within this group. Counts within this group. Counts are the top of the chain are the top of the chain and knights are at the and knights are at the bottom. Starting with the bottom. Starting with the knights, each level is tied knights, each level is tied to the next level through to the next level through personal oaths. In this personal oaths. In this was a knight will serve a was a knight will serve a noble who is in conflict noble who is in conflict with a direct relative. with a direct relative.

The Little PeopleThe Little People Commoners: This Commoners: This

group is the largest group is the largest and the most and the most disadvantaged. Free disadvantaged. Free men are those who men are those who may own small plots may own small plots of land and are not of land and are not subject to serving a subject to serving a nobleman. They have nobleman. They have no political rights, but no political rights, but they are left alone. they are left alone.

Serfs on the other hand, are those people who Serfs on the other hand, are those people who are tied economically to nobleman. are tied economically to nobleman.

Serfs were granted sections of land on which to Serfs were granted sections of land on which to cultivate and in return they must either donate cultivate and in return they must either donate part of their crop to the noblemen or work their part of their crop to the noblemen or work their fields for them on prescribed days. fields for them on prescribed days.

The level of autonomy varied in each nationThe level of autonomy varied in each nation

Regional Variances - EnglandRegional Variances - England In England, the average commoner enjoyed little In England, the average commoner enjoyed little

political freedom. political freedom.

Compared to those on the continent, they did Compared to those on the continent, they did have more freedom due to the relative instability have more freedom due to the relative instability of the nobility and kings. of the nobility and kings.

They did however, have some economic freedoms They did however, have some economic freedoms such as gleaning and access to common land. such as gleaning and access to common land.

Regional Variances - FranceRegional Variances - France In France conditions worsened for most In France conditions worsened for most

commoners and there were fewer actual free men commoners and there were fewer actual free men as a percentage of society. as a percentage of society.

As well as economic shackles, the law courts As well as economic shackles, the law courts ensured an unequal society. ensured an unequal society.

Nobles had privileges guaranteed under the law Nobles had privileges guaranteed under the law at the expense of those who worked for them. at the expense of those who worked for them.

Regional Variances – The EastRegional Variances – The East Further east in places like Prussia and Russia Further east in places like Prussia and Russia

there were no free men. there were no free men.

There were no free men as all peasants were There were no free men as all peasants were economically and legally tied to the nobility. economically and legally tied to the nobility.

In these cases the nobility literally held their lives. In these cases the nobility literally held their lives.

They could exploit them with the full sanction of They could exploit them with the full sanction of the law. the law.