Feudalism in Japan and Europe Notes

Feudalism: An Overview

  • Feudalism emerged independently in Japan and Europe, leading to similar class systems.

  • Feudalism involved extreme inequality, poverty, and warfare.

Definition of Feudalism

  • Marc Bloch defined feudalism as a system with peasants/serfs tied to the land.

  • Peasants worked for protection and a portion of the harvest, not for money.

  • Warriors controlled society with codes of obedience and ethics.

  • Absence of a strong central government; local lords controlled warriors and peasants.

  • Lords owed obedience to a distant, weaker duke, king, or emperor.

Timeline of Feudal Eras

  • Feudalism was well-established in Europe by the 800s.

  • In Japan, feudalism appeared in the 1100s under the Kamakura Shogunate.

  • Shoguns (military dictators) ruled instead of the emperor during the shogunate.

  • European feudalism declined with stronger states in the 1500s.

  • Japanese feudalism lasted until about 150 years ago; power returned to the emperor in 1868.

Class Hierarchy

  • Both societies had inherited class systems: nobles/lords, warriors, and farmers/serfs.

  • Farmers/servants lived under the protection of nobles without owning land.

  • Social mobility was limited; people stayed in their birth classes.

  • Warriors (knights in Europe, samurai in Japan) were crucial due to constant warfare.

  • Warriors served local lords and were bound by a code of ethics.

Warfare and Weaponry

  • Knights and samurai both rode horses, used swords, and wore armor.

  • European armor was all-metal and heavy.

  • Japanese armor was lighter, made of leather or metal plates with silk or metal bindings.

  • Samurai armor offered less protection.

  • European lords built stone castles, while Japanese lords (daimyo) built wooden castles.

Moral and Legal Frameworks

  • Japanese feudalism was based on Confucianism (Kong Qiu, 551-479 B.C.).

  • Confucianism emphasized strong morals and respect for superiors.

  • Daimyo and samurai had a moral duty to protect peasants and villagers.

  • Peasants were duty-bound to honor warriors and pay taxes.

  • European feudalism was based on Roman Empire laws and customs.

  • The Roman Empire existed from 27 B.C. to A.D. 476.

  • Traditions from Germanic tribes and the Catholic Church also influenced European feudalism.

  • The relationship between lord and peasants was a contract involving loyalty in exchange for food and protection.

Land Ownership and Economics

  • European knights gained land from lords for military service.

  • Japanese samurai did not own land; daimyo paid them salaries (usually in rice) from peasant taxes.

Role of Gender

  • Samurai women were expected to be strong.

  • European women were considered delicate and were protected by knights.

  • Samurai were cultured and artistic, capable in painting and poetry.

  • Knights usually could not read, preferring hunting or jousting.

Philosophy of Death

  • Knights were bound by Catholic Christian law; suicide was a sin.

  • Samurai had no religious reason to avoid death; they practiced seppuku (ceremonial suicide) to maintain honor in defeat.

Conclusion

  • Feudalism in Japan and Europe has mostly disappeared, but traces remain.

  • Monarchies still exist but lack real power.

  • Knights and samurai are now titles of honor.

  • Inequality still exists, but is far less extreme.