the Middle AgesA Brief Summary

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Feudalism & the Feudal

Relationship

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•after the collapse of Charlemagne- confusion, Viking attacks, etc., until 10th century

•because of this there was no central authority- so feudalism evolved•based on security and protection•vassal was a person in a contractual agreement with another, usually more powerful person

•nobility wanted to acquire as many vassals as possible , for increased security

•both lord and vassal were bound by an oath of loyalty (the reality was often less than perfect)

•at its core feudalism was a system that allowed the lord to be warriors (knights), all the other economic activity was undertaken by vassals

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Manorialism

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• after the collapse of the Roman Empire the patricians were forced to settle their slaves on their lands, this was the beginning of manorialism/serfdom

• innovations, heavy plow, harnesses, 3 field crop rotation, windmills, lead to greater efficiency and increased food production

• the manor was the fundamental unit of economic, political and social organization

• the manor would contain bakeries, black smiths, workshops, bakeries, wineries, etc.

• trading between manors was common

• the lord would protect the serfs in times of trouble (invasion, etc) and in turn the serf would work for the lord (about 50% of the time) as well as on his own land

• everyone had their place and role and literacy was very low

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The Three Orders

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• Feudalism was divided in to 3 orders: those who work (serfs), those who fight (lords), and those who pray (clergy)

• Serfs

• Lords

• Clergy

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Medieval World View

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• christianity was the dominant world view in Europe by the end of the 13th century

• scholars like Thomas Aquinas (St. Thomas), St. Jerome, and Origen tried to synthesize the greco-roman thinking with christian teaching

• by the end of the 12th century the serfs had been emancipated and were no longer tied to the land, instead they rented the land from their lords

• with the increase in agricultural productivity and the subsequent rise in population towns and cities grew as did a middle class

• rise in vernacular latin, literature, wandering scholars (goliards)

• growth of universities specializing in law, medicine, theology and philosophy

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