Medieval Society

792 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How did the immediate and long-term effects of the Black Death change medieval society in Europe

Feudalism started at the beginning of the Middle Age, around 1000 CE, and ended 300 years later. Many reasons explain the fall of this strongly established system but the two most important ones are the Black Plague and the rise of trading cities. The fragile balance of the feudal system rested on the authority of the lords and the king. With the plague, the economy collapsed and the lords were no longer able to sustain their vassals. Moreover, trading cities governed by rich merchants rose. Citizens in these cities were free and no longer under the authority of barons thus bringing closer the break down of the feudal system.
Feudalism is the political, military, and social system in the Middle Age. The feudal system rests on the relationship between a lord and his vassal. It resembles a pyramid of hierarchy. The king is at the very top, his vassals, the lords, give him loyalty and military aid in exchange for fief and peasants. The knights, vassals to the lords, give homage and military service in exchange for food, protection and shelter. Finally, the peasants, or serfs, farm the land and pay the rent in exchange for food, protection and shelter. Serfs held no rank neither in politics or military and they were usually unfairly treated. They were however, the basis of the feudal system without which everything would collapse. This system worked as long as everyone played his or her part. However, because of the poor conditions of life in which they lived, many peasants tried to gain the free cities. In order to become a free citizen, a serf had to flee his master's land and stay in a city for a year without being caught. These conditions, though hard to maintain, were worth a try for serfs who tried to find better lives for the...

... middle of paper ...

...ed for the welfare of their members and their families. The cities also created universities and their own social hierarchy with the patriciate at the top. All of these changes made the cities more powerful and started to taint the image of the feudal system.
The Feudal system was brought down by the black plague and the rise of trading cities. With the outburst of the plague, the cities, which had already been powerful, became fully independent as the kingdom collapsed. The harsh conditions of life as a peasant and the depopulation of the countryside lead people to flee to cities where they hoped to engage in trade and succeed in life. The cities brought opportunities that did not require a title of nobility. Thus, many nobles married their daughters to rich merchants who ruled the money-led economic cities leaving behind the disintegrating feudal system.

Show More
Related

  • What Is The Social Structure Of Monty Python And The Holy Grail

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    Others were more like slaves. They owned nothing and were pledged to their local lord. They worked long days, 6 days a week, and often barely had enough food to survive”(“Middle Ages History”). Knights were above the peasants and they were given land granted by the barons in exchange for their military services if the king needed it. They were responsible for protecting the baron who granted them land as well as the baron’s family and the manor they lived at. The knights were able to keep any amount of land they were given, and they gave out the rest to the serfs. The lord, or baron, was above the knight in the social class divide. They were given land by the king and in return they showed loyalty to the monarch. They provided the king with fully equipped knights if the king needed some to serve. If the baron “did not have an army, sometimes they would pay the king a tax instead. This tax was called shield money”(“Middle Ages History”). The king was at the top of the feudal system and held the most power and wealth. The king could not maintain control over all the land in England so he divided the land up to the barons which eventually

    Read More

  • Rome's Contributions To Western Civilization

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    The feudal system was one that arose in England after the invasion and conquest of William I. It has been said that this was the perfect political system for this time period. Life was really hard back in the Middle Ages and safety and defense were really hard to come by after the empire fell. There were no laws to protect the poor, so they turned to their lords to keep them safe. The king was in complete control of the system and he owned all the land. One quarter was kept as private property and the rest was given to the church or leased

    Read More

  • World History: Daily Life During the Black Plague

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    The plague caused a labor shortage because many people died. So, people started demanding higher wages (which was strongly opposed by the guilds and nobles). When higher prices are demanded, revolt was put in their mind. These set the government officials off and they were either killed or left. These actions completely devastated the feudal system. Vassal was no longer subjected to lord because the lords were no longer providing for the vassal, but running for their lives from the plague, or dying. “Kings and dukes now had to bargain with their laborers over working conditions, and the under-classes were able to demand better compensation for their services.” 7

    Read More

  • DBQ On The Middle Ages

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Feudalism was a political, economic, and social system in which nobles were granted the use of land that legally belonged to the king” (Doc. 1) "Social" life in the Middle Ages was the only kind of life people knew. Whether nobility, craftsperson or peasant your life was defined by your family, your community and those around you (OI). “The Church protected the Kings and Queens (OI).” “The King is above Nobles, Nobles above Knights, and the Knights are above serfs (Doc.1).” “ Nobles provides money and knights. Knights provide protection and military service (Doc. 1).” Social network, your village and your local nobility, was your family (OI).” “From the moment of its baptism a few days after birth, a child entered into a life of service to God and God’s Church (Doc.3).” “Every Person was required to live by the Church’s laws and to pay heavy taxes to support the Church (Doc.3).” “In return for this, they were shown the way to everlasting life and happiness after lives that were often short and hard (Doc. 3).” In conclusion, this is what it was like in the Middle Ages from a social

    Read More

  • Black Death Dbq Essay

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Black Death went through Europe in 1348-1351 which killed about 30% of the population. This really affected the English peasants because there was a labor shortage, and food was almost nonexistent. Even about thirty years later, life still wasn’t normal, the nice country life of the Middle Ages was gone, and unhappiness was common amongst the poor. The peasant’s revolt in medieval England was caused by unfair punishments, and treating the peasant’s like slaves.

    Read More

  • The Feudal System: The Black Plague

    2646 Words  | 6 Pages

    (AGG) The Black Plague was a big contributor to the decline of feudal times and how they worked. (BS-1) The Black Plague was a horrendous disease that made millions of people suffer from its horrible symptoms. (BS-2) The Plague spread very quickly, along trade routes and with travelers causing many people to be affected from it. (BS-3) Feudalism was an organized system to separate people into classes and create a government. (BS-4) Military was an important part of the feudal system, they provided protection and got things in return. (BS-5) Religious beliefs such as the great chain of being were a vital factor in the feudal system being able to work effectively. (BS-6) There were lots of oaths and agreements from class to class which

    Read More

  • The Best Titles and Descriptions for the Middle Ages

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Age of Feudalism describes the Middle Ages because people needed some organization in their society. The fall of the Roman Empire had left the government in an unstable position, and people needed protection from their lords. The start of feudalism would make it easier for the king because he would not have to rule over a large territory because the area would be under the control of several nobles. This was a political system in which each class on a manor would have to provide something for the society in order to receive assistance in return. A manor consisted of several villages where the lord had overlooked each area. For example the vassal had to provide loyalty and military service, and received protection and land from their lord (Doc. 3). Feudalism not only worked between lords and vassals, but between each class (except merchants). Take for instance, John of Toul is sending his knights to the count and countess of Champagne in order to protect them, and he had received land from them (Doc 2). Another example was the Salisbury oath, wh...

    Read More

  • Feudal System Dbq

    436 Words  | 1 Pages

    The person's class status in the feudal system affected their social status in the Middle Ages. The serfs provide services and food when the knights needed it.

    Read More

  • Middle Ages Dbq

    723 Words  | 2 Pages

    A system of small, independent governments led to the concept known as feudalism. Kings with large land holdings would give land to nobles, who would give portions of their land to knights in exchange for protection from invasions. An economic structure, the manorial system, became the economic structure for many regions of Europe. This allowed for each manor to be a self-sufficient community by growing their own food and taking care of their clothing needs. The common people, known as serfs, would provide the labor for the farms and because of constant warfare, sickness and starvation the average life span was only thirty years during this period. The governmental system of feudalism and manorial economic system continued the pattern of isolationism contributing to the Middle Ages

    Read More

  • Feudalism In The Middle Ages

    308 Words  | 1 Pages

    Feudalism is a system of land ownership and duties that were used in the Middle Ages. Under feudalism, all the land in a kingdom was the king's. However, the king would give some of his land to the lords or nobles who fought for him. Rulers in all society wanted to create law and order and ensure that people make good use of the society’s resources. That is why feudalism was created. Monarchs had to accept limits on their own personal power. They also needed to respond to expectations that other groups in society have a say in decision-making. People began to use medieval courts for problems that had previously been solved by trial by combat.

    Read More

  • Medieval Europe

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Medieval Times for Europe, from the 400 AD till 1400 AD, are often labeled as “The Dark Ages”. This time period has begun after a turning point known as Fall of Rome. It caused Rome to divide into two well-known civilizations: Medieval Europe, Islam, and The Byzantine Empire. Also, Medieval Europe led to a well known utopian period of “rebirth” identified as the Renaissance. The time period between 400 CE and 1400 CE wasn’t a “Dark Age” for Europe because of progress in academic success, blossom in architecture, and religious unity along with government. It wasn’t a cultural decay or decline because of the legendary time period it led to.

    Read More

  • Feudalism Essay

    1381 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Feudal system had no type of economic system in place; instead it was a mix of social and religious activities that embraced the system. This was because the

    Read More

  • Christinaity In Middle Ages

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity played a major role throughout the Middle Ages in society and politics. The Middle Ages, classified from 600 AD to 1350 AD, was significantly effected by Christianity because of the impact it had on the daily lives of people of the time. The beginning of the Early Middle Ages, after the Fall of Rome in 476 AD and the period known as the Dark Ages, the reorganization of the empire brought a desire for faith and religion, primarily Christianity. This trend of Christian importance was apparent until 1350, when the Black Death caused the end of a systematized era. The church is often viewed, during this period of time, as a center of corruption, greed, and evil, with materialistic popes and unholy acts. Even though there were immoral times, the presence of Christianity brought hope and stability to the empire politically and socially. In the Late Age of Antiquity, Christianity had started its rapid spread becoming the state religion in the fourth century, and emerging as a "cultural trend" (212). It became further defined, and was the bases of the Western World's proceedings. Christianity's popularity influenced the church by people's newfound ability to concentrate on faith and a better life. With this foundation, the Middle Ages expanded religious importance by employing it in day to day life. Christianity was consistently present in the social arena of the Middle Ages. There were many controversies over Christian beliefs. The engrossment in Christianity in the eighth century had a non peaceful turn because of the Iconoclastic Controversy. It divided the Western and the Byzantine Empires additionally with the dispute over the use of icons in religious worship. This quarrel resulted in religious vigor through exploration of religious traditions and mysticism. The division between the empire was a constantly present with the arousal of disputes . The view of the Christian Church by the people varied from agreeable to immoral. In the Early Middle Ages, the church was disorganized and non-established. Although the progression of the Middle Ages led to the furtherance of the Church, there were many set backs in the reputation of the papacy. The weakness of the papacy was a result of ineffective and corrupt churches. The tenth century was a period of religious decline with privately owned monasteries and chur...

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Black Death On Society

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Europe’s social structure in the Middle Ages consisted of feudalism. A hierarchical society of Kings granting land to nobles, who would then give a fief to a knight in return for service. The knight would then have peasants or serfs working on their fief. However, as the plague spread, many peasants died and their labour could not be replaced. This loss of workforce had a significant impact upon the economy as grain was not being harvested and livestock roamed free. The agrarian economy had been severely damaged, the land became uncultivated and returned back to its natural state. This rural collapse eventually led to food shortages in towns and cities.

    Read More

  • The Middle Ages From 1066 To 1485

    1462 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Middle Ages encompass one of the most turbulent periods in English History. Starting with the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest - when William the Conqueror effectively took all of the lands from the Saxon English and gave them to French nobles. The English Middle Ages then saw the building of the great English castles, including the Tower of London, which helped the Normans to retain their hold on England. The start of the Crusades and the knights of the Middle Ages, including the founding of the Knights Templar. The Domesday Book and the Magna Carta. The Kings and Queens of the Middle Ages including Richard the Lionheart and great Plantagenet Kings from Henry II (1154-1189) to Edward III (1327-1377). The Hundred Years War between England and France. The Medieval Kings and Queens of the Royal Houses of Lancaster and York and the Wars of the Roses. The Middle Ages Feudal System and the terrible Black Death which really did plague the period of the Middle Ages.The Middle Ages 1066-1485

    Read More

More about Medieval Society

Open Document