Feudalism

feudalism

exchange of land for political and military protection

Political aspects

Hierarchal and interdependent

-church → lords and nobles → vassals and lesser lords → knights → peasants

Grants of land given by lords in exchange for oaths of loyalty

Private armies of vassals and their knights protected lords and their lands

Peasants owed labor and obedience

All owed loyalty and obedience to the church

Economic aspects

Manor estates

-owned by lords

-peasant serfs given land to work in exchange for percentage of crop

-free peasants worked as skilled laborers

-dues and fees charged for tenancy, use of roads, bridges etc.

Outcomes

Political

-stability, leading lords emerged as kings, foundation for nation-states

Economic

-self sufficiency, foundation for urbanization (productive surpluses and specialization of skills that would lead to trade), trade would lead to growth of towns and cities

-Christian value system institutionalized by church