In Simple terms define feudalism

Question

In Simple terms define feudalism

Answer 1

The simplest I can say about feudalism is this:

It was a structure in medieval times that showed who had the most power and who had the least. So, the nobles (the hierarchy) were the most powerful, and the peasants had the least power.

Here's a bit more information though from my studies over a term of learning about Medieval Europe at school:

In parts of Medieval Asia and Europe, a system arose for organizing society known as feudalism. In the 'feudal system,' the king gave land to powerful barons, who then gave land and protection to lesser lords, and so on through to the peasants. Each level was then expected to fight to protect its overlords (monarchy) whenever needed. European feudalism started in the late 9th century, and spread all over the continent. Outside Europe, the feudal system operated in Palestine during the Crusades (the Crusades was when the Christians from Europe went to war with the Muslims, trying to sieze control of Jerusalem the Holy Land) and in Japan, where sumarai gave military service to their overlords in return for land. Feudalism was introduced to Medieval Europe by William of Normandy in 1066, when he invaded England and defeated Harold Godwin and his army at The Battle of Hastings.

What I wrote abover was off the top of my mind and explains a bit about what fuedalism was like, however below are my exam notes on 'Feudalism in Medieval Europe' from earlier this year:

1. ‘Feudalism’ describes a way of life, the way in which the rulers of medieval Europe organized their world.

2. Under feudalism, power was controlled by only a few people, almost always men, and the majority of people had few rights and little freedom.

3. The feudal world was a world where people were born to a position in life, and were taught by rulers, to accept their place and not to seek change.

4. ‘Feudalism’ also describes how the way power was established by the ways in which rulers distributed the land.

5. Those who owned the land had the power.

6. William of Normandy (William the Conqueror) introduced the feudal system to England.

7. William’s actions provide a good example of how invasion and a new system of government could change the lives of people already living in that country.

8. The amount of land someone owned was the main sign of his or her power.

9. Under feudalism, William’s brother gained 400 estates.

10. The feudal system gave the king great power.

11. Over time, many of the tenants in chief began to resent kings who abused their power.

12. On June 15th in the year of 1215 at Runnymede in England, many barons rebelled against their king, John.

13. They forced him to sign a document called the Magna Carta (Latin for ‘Great Charter’).

14. They wanted to stop him, and many monarchs who might come after him, from ruling unjustly.

15. The main idea of the Magna Carta was that the king/queen was no allowed to do whatever he/she pleased, and that he/she had to respect the system of law.

16. When John refused to sign the Magna Carta the barons went to war with him, and John died in battle.

17. The legacy of the Magna Carta endured and came to represent the first acceptance of the idea that the authority of the law should be more important than that of the monarch.  

18. About 90% of medieval Europeans were peasants, who lived under the control of the lord.

19. In their whole lives, many medieval Europeans may never have traveled further than the 16-kilometre walk to the nearest market town.

Below shows the organization of medieval society under fuedalism. With the Monarch having the most power and the peasantry having the least power. This is structure of Medieval Europe, from thos with the most power and those with the least.

Monarch:          

The Monarch was the King or Queen, and gave land to the tenants-in-chief, who paid rent in the form of loyal and military support.

Tenants-in-chief:        

These were the lords, barons and bishops.  They provided fully equipped knights for the monarch’s army, and provided the monarch with money and advice.

Sub-tenants:

These were the knights and lesser clergy. They provided with fighting wars for the king, and guarding and protecting.

Peasantry:

This level of people were the field workers and villagers in manors. They paid taxes in the form of crops, and worked for the lord.

Okay, I hope this helped!

-Tim :]

Answer 2

Feudalism was the social organization that existed in the Middle Ages.

It set up society in a hierarchy, at the top the king, followed by nobles (also called vassals), and peasants.  There were duties/obligations that held the system together.  In general, the king ruled, and allowed nobles power in their estates, in exchange for soldiers.  Peasants paid rent (in the form of work) for the land they farmed.

Whether you were a king, a noble, or a peasant depended strictly on your parentage - a noble's son was always a noble, a peasant's son was always a peasant, etc.  Christianity held up this system, because God decided which families were noble, peasants, or royal.

Answer 3

Feudalism is a system that was used in the Middle Ages.

It is when one person (eg. a king) hires many workers (called 'vassals')

who in turn hire more vassals to help them. THis system was quite widespread during that time, and people would exchange loyalty (ie. to the king) for gifts and money.

Answer 4

medieval social system: the legal and social system that existed in medieval Europe, in which vassals held land from lords in exchange for military service

Answer 5

Feudalism was introduced by the Normans after 1066 and was basically a chain of control with the King the " superior " and below him a knight who would be the " vassel " In turn if the knight disponed / sold / gave land  he would be the " superior " and the person acquiring the land would be the " vassal " and so on down the line . Interestingly in Scotland land and buildings are still sold " subject to feudal tenure " . Up until about 50 years ago a " feu duty " was paid by the householder - the " vassal " to his superior . This was often a small sum of say a few pounds

but it was a legal obligation . The superior also had the right to impose " burdens  on the property - for example you were not allowed to keep pigeons ! or sell " intoxicating liquors " !!

Answer 6

KING : I allow you to rule your land. You can act like a king in there, just remain royal to me and send me army and money

Landlords : Ok, I wil do so. just leave me along