Compare And Contrast Japan And Europe

Compare And Contrast Japan And Europe
Because Japan and France both existed within the genre of feudal society, they shared many
economic similarities. Both feudal systems had common qualities of fief organization, similar
inheritance customs, taxing systems and issues with debt, and the lack of social mobility
characteristic of feudalism. In feudal societies, fiefs are awarded to officials in lieu of salaries. A fief
typically was a plot of land, including household servants, agricultural laborers, and anyone else
who lived on the land; however, it was above all a diffuse bundle of loose claims on rights with
which one obtained the right to participate in the "game of power" present in feudal societies. A fief
did not necessarily have to be land, but it was overwhelmingly so in both France and Japan because
of the natural economy, led by agricultural pursuits; the more important part of a feudal agreement
was not the land, per se, but rather the ties between lord and recipient. Moreover, in punishment for
breach of feudal contract, forfeiture of the land was possible; the lords in France had the right to
reclaim their gifted fief if they felt they were not well–served. There was also the option of escheat,
which allowed the lord to take back their fief in default of a rightful heir. Fiefdom was common to
both France and Japan. Shiki rights in Japan were defined as "a right to profit from the land"; they
acted as a sort of deed or title, which could be bought, sold, inherited, and divided as the recipient of
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The Fall Of The Roman Empire
Feudalism was a system developed in Medieval Europe, which structured European society. This
system emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire. People needed protection and the feudal system
was a way of protecting people in exchange for their services. Feudalism was developed around the
8th to 12th centuries, and it was based on premises between the two people. Feudalism was a way of
survival where people exchange their services for land or protection of the lords. There was no
money involved in the feudal society but rather homage, which was the acknowledgement of feudal
alliance between to people.
There were two types of homages, vassal homage and servile homage. Vassal homage was when a
vassal, who was usually a knight or noble, exchanged their services in war for a fief from the lord. A
fief was land or manor that came with several peasants. Servile homage, on the other hand, was
when the lord gave protection to the serfs in exchange for their services of working the land.
Although serfs were not salves, they did not have many rights.
The origins of feudalism can be traced back to the Frankish kingdom of the 8th century, specifically
the Carolingian dynasty in Western Europe (History of Feudalism). Charles Martel [what other
kings] granted land to nobles to yield the income that is needed for armies. According to William
Stubbs, fiefs were granted in the Frankish Kingdom, and at the same time, "vassal–lord bonds" were
established. Before fiefs, benefices were the form

What Occurred During The Middle Ages
The Chivalry period lasted almost 5 centuries and took place during the Middle Ages in western
Europe.
It grew as a mass in the 12th century, stood still during the 13th century and then decayed during the
last 3
centuries of its lifetime. The Age of Chivalry took place in the Middle Ages. During the Middle
Ages, nobles
started to fight one another contantly. Some empires and estates becames better at it and improved
over the
time. Which cause by the 1100s to for a code of behaviour or a standard to survive in battle.
The Code of Chivarly was a standard everyone knew about a knight. They were said to be loyal,
brave,
outstanding and very confident of what they are doing. At the begining warriors fought on foot, but
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Classical feudalism, which developed in and after
the 10th century. It was only toward the year 1000 that the term fief began to be used instead of
benefice. Feudalism
was a contractual system of political and military relationships. It was characterized by giving
someone fiefs in
return of politcal or military services. The feudal method of holding land was by fief; the grantor of
the fief was the
suzerain, or overlord, and the recipient was the vassal.This formal procedure served to cement the
personal
relationship between lord and vassal; after the ceremony the

lord invested the vassal with the fief, usually by giving him some symbol of the transferred land.
Honors or rights, as
well as land, could be granted as fiefs. With the advent of hereditary succession and primogeniture,
renewal of the
fief by the heir of the deceased became customary, and little by little the fief became hereditary. The
feudal system
rested on the unsettled conditions of the times and thus on the need of the lord for armed warriors
and the need

Raoul Of Cambrai And Christianity Essay
Raoul of Cambrai and Christianity Raoul of Cambrai, an old French epic, has strong ties to
Christianity despite only having several actual figures from the Church present in the story.
Characters consistently use phrases such as "By God", "I pray", "for my faith", and numerous
references to saints and their relics in the epic linking their beliefs to Christianity. Lady Alice,
Raoul's mother, Bernier, Raoul's vassal, and Count Ybert, family member to Bernier, see
Christianity as a valuable resource when making arguments or trying to persuade someone.
However, Christianity is not seen as a positive to everyone, especially Raoul. As Raoul's feud with
King Louis and his quest to take over a fief goes on, his interactions with Christian figures and
symbols illustrate his eventual downfall. So, exactly how is Christianity depicted in Raoul of
Cambrai and what is the purpose of characters' faith? Christianity is depicted as a downfall for
Raoul, and the purpose of characters' faith is to foreshadow. In the epic, characters' whose faith is
substantial and positive often are able to foreshadow what happens. For Raoul, whose faith is
fragile, Christianity becomes his downfall to his inevitable death at the hands of Bernier.
Christianity is first depicted in Raoul of Cambrai when Raoul is baptized. This scene, when the
Bishop receives Raoul and baptizes him is one of the rare moments a member of the clergy is
present. Raoul's baptism was rather distinct in that Lady Alice, Raoul's

Letter To Runstoff's Attempt To Enter The Woods
As he was flying he kept thinking of places he might be able to go because his house was not an
option. Not knowing where to go he thought he might as well go to Runstoff fief and see if the
robbery had anything to do with the murder of the king. The sun was still shining when he got there
since it wasn't that far away from the castle. As he was approaching, he saw a man running then turn
into the woods and jump over a bush. Almost instantly after doing so a bird flew out of the trees
which caught his attention. He started descending slowly to enter the forest and see what that man
was doing in there.
As he approached the entrance of trees, he perched on a branch and looked in to check if he could
see the man. The man was nowhere in sight, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He had an imprint of an animal on his chest, though it wasn't a gorilla, it was a tiger in a crouched
stance ready to pounce. The shifter turner into his human self not understanding what this bird was
thinking going after him until he saw the imprint on the little birds chest. Not knowing what the
animal was, he instantly turned into his power for of the tiger to protect himself. Atilis transformed
into his humongous 12 foot gorilla, doubling the size of the largest apes. The tiger hissed at him but
backed up in fear of him because his size, and the tiger was only the size of a normal tiger. Atilis
stood up on his hind legs and roared at the tiger so loud that all the birds in the nearby trees took off
in a hurry. The tiger thought that this powerful shifter wanted to kill him for a reason he did not yet
know, so he pounced at Atilis trying to put up a fight. Atilis seeing the act of fear, dashed forward
and grabbed the tiger by head and tossed him into a nearby tree before it had the chance to scratch or
bite him. Atilis turned into human form since he had won the fight so easily.
"Let's talk, I have no wish to fight anymore unless you make me." Atilis concluded.
The tiger got up from the ground next to the roots of the trees and looked at him to make sure he
wasn't lying. He turned back into himself and kept looking at Atilis. As Atilis looked

Feudal And The Feudal System
The Middle Ages were a time full of war and poverty, and such they birthed the feudal system to
lessen the effects of both those societal ailments. There were both military and economic structures
that feudalism operated on. The manor supported those structures using the payments and life of a
peasant and by giving the income of a lord. The free peasant filled in the gap between classes and
was neither in nobility, or in servitude. The economic and military system known as the feudal
system relied on a combination of the workings of a manor as well as the role of the freeman
peasant.
The Middle Ages in Europe founded a economic and military system known as feudalism. This
system was based on a series of personal relationships and loyalty ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Vassals owed service to the monarch and protection to their serfs. Vassals had to take an oath of
homage and fealty to the king, and this caused them to owe the king (Smith 4). There was a large
ceremony for the proceeding of the homage or fealty, and this was due to the fact that written
contracts were often rare since most were illiterate, and all that attended could testify that the
proceeding had taken place (Nardo 16–17). The services that were owed by a vassal were mostly
military service in field, as well as the recruitment of knights to also serve the monarch (Smith 4).
For example, vassals could be called to guard the monarch's castles (Smith 4).The requirement of
knight recruitment was called servicium debitum, and there was no real set way of completing it
(Norman 113). Some vassals hired the knights, and other kept them permanently in their service and
household, with the prior becoming more and more popular over time, converging with the giving of
a small fief (Norman 113). There were non–military services vassals were obligated to do as well.
Vassals often had to be present at royal courts for the king, usually for other vassals (Smith 4).
Vassals might even need to aid the monarch financially, if ever called upon (Smith 4). During the
early ages of feudalism, the monarch had the power to randomly tax his vassals, but that
transformed into three events that the vassal had to pay tax for; the knighting of the monarch's eldest
son, his eldest daughter's first marriage, and his ransom if captured (Norman 104). A lord also had
obligations to the peasants that worked their land, for example, he was in control of the justice
system and had to provide that service in the courts (Norman 105). The lord was also impelled to
protect the peasants from all threats, human or otherwise (Norman 105). However, the process of
becoming a vassal often

Robin Hood and Feudalism Essay
Robin Hood and Feudalism
ROBIN HOOD In the years of King Richard the Lionheart (1189–1199) there lived a brave and
intelligent man called Robin Hood. He was a feared outlaw, who loved liberty and hated oppression.
He took the law into his own hands and robbed the rich to give to the poor. People loved him and
thought of him as a justice–maker. In time he acquired a heroic reputation and came to represent the
ideal of heroism of his age. Stories about him and his closest friends Friar Tuck, Little John, and
Maid Marian may be found in the time. They say that Robin Hood and his companions lived in
Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. They were called the 'merry men' and used to wear green
clothes, a particular shade of green, called ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A lord would grant land to another noble in exchange for protection and military services. This grant
was called a fief. Those who received fiefs were called vassals. Within the fief, the vassal was the
highest authority. Fiefs could be various seizes. Some were single estates just big enough for a
knight and his family. Others were large, as big as an entire country or province. The vassals
promised the lord military services. Military service was their main obligation. This service was
usually limited to forty days a year. Vassals also owed payments call aids on certain occasions.
When a lord's oldest daughter married the vassal made special payments as a gift. The vassal also
had to pay for the arming of the lords oldest son when he became a knight. Vassals pledged to pay
the ransom for their lord in the event of his capture during war. A vassal's son usually inherited his
father's responsibility to serve and pay aids. Before receiving the fief, the son had to pay a fee called
a relief. The amount of payment all depended on the size of the fief. The lord in turn, had
obligations to his vassals. He promised the vassal protection and could not deny the vassal's claim to
the fief. If at any time an outsider tried to steal the vassal's fief, the lord would join in with his other
knights to aid him. Levack states: "The bond of loyalty between lord and vassal was formalized by
an oath. The oath established personal

Feudalism And The Feudal System
1. Q: When was the feudal system developed and why was it used extensively during the Middle
Ages in comparison to past social systems?
A: Feudalism, short for the feudal system, has long reaching roots that can be best described as
vague in its founding. Feudalism was first found in the 8th century when the Frankish kingdom
practiced the act of passing fiefs to lords under the control on the king. When the Frankish kingdom
attacked northern Italy, Spain, and Germany, the idea of feudalism spread with these conquests. The
last large step in the diffusion of feudalism was in 1066 when the normans took it to England, which
in turn allowed for feudalism to spread into Ireland and Scotland. The main reason why feudalism
was used extensively ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
3. Q: What were the differences of social and political powers between the multiple classes of
medieval citizens under the feudal system?
A: Under feudalism, social and political power was completely regulated by the "power pyramid",
which was an overarching system of power and put the Pope at the top, and the lowly peasants at the
bottom. The pyramid can be described by the order of power from greatest to smallest, beginning
with the Pope and the King, which gave control to nobles, then the nobles gave land to vassals,
which then in turn gave land to knights for the protection of the lowest workers, known as the
peasants or serfs("Feudalism Pyramid"). The nobles, vassals, and knights had the same political
power in comparison to who the managed, for example, the nobles had power over the vassals, but
vassals had power over the knights. Social status follows the same path as political power, knights
were always higher than peasants, but vassals were higher in social status than knights, etc. The one
class of feudalism that had no political power or social status were the serfs, which could best be
described as forced labor, as they lacked the ability to leave the fief under the threat of death("The
Middle Ages | Feudalism.").
4. Q: What would eventually mark the downfall of the feudal system and what impact did the

Feudalism and How It Affected Old England
Feudalism was a very important aspect in developing the political organization in medieval England.
It was one of dominant governments used by the nobles. Feudalism was when one of the king's
noblemen would give land to a man known as a fief and give the fief people to work the land for
him. These people are known as serfs. The fief would then protect the serfs from being attacked as
long, as long as the serfs worked the land to provide an income for the fief. If the fief accepted the
nobles offer he would have to swear his allegiance to the king. After he swore to the nobles the fief
would become a vassal to the noblemen. When the fief became a vassal he would have to provide
military services or any other type of service to the king. A fief could also become a noble lord and
could give some of his land away to other people known as fiefs. This process would be known as
subinfeudation and this could go all the way up to the king. Feudalism was pretty much the only
government at the time of medieval England. Feudalism came about because of the weak political
groups and non–existent governments. The king would use feudalism as a way to show his power
and make sure his military strength was strong. The use of this political organization slowly died
out. "With an eye toward discovering the nature of the Marxists "transition from feudalism to
capitalism" most of them concluded that marx was right; the old feudal aristocracy of the middle
ages was gradually being

Feudalism In Medieval Europe
Around 800 AD, a new concept called feudalism was developing. This system defined the destiny of
every person born in Europe during that time, and it was formed to bring a sense of ranking to
European society. Feudalism was Medieval Europe's way to organize the social relations between
three classes: the nobles, the clergy, and the common people. The nobles consisted of the king and
his knights. When the king would decide to go to war, he would give away fiefs or parts of his land
to his vassals. The vassals had an oath called fealty: they would participate in the king's army for
two months out of the year in return for the land. This chain went on–and–on, making nearly
everyone a lord and vassal. The commoners on the fiefs were either serfs

Feudal Oath
Law and oaths were the basis of feudalism, without them the system would be a chaotic mess. The
laws that governed serfs very strict and limited their freedom greatly, giving them almost no control
of their life. Serfs were at the bottom of the feudal system, a serf was someone who was bound to
the land he or she worked on. They had almost no control over their lives, they could not leave their
land, they provided service to their lords and nobles, served in their lord's house, and paid taxes to
their lord (Richardson 2). The only reason why they did this was for protection and a home in the
manor. The reason why these peasants wanted shelter so badly was because diseases were
everywhere and manors were few and widespread, it could take days of travel to get from one manor
to the next and even then a peasant would be forced to stay in that manor. After a vassal made his
feudal oath he was given a fief from his lord, it had land and peasants for him to watch over. The
core of the feudal oath was a vassal, who was usually a knight, giving loyalty to his lord in return for
a fief, this fief often included land, and maybe armour and weapons, or even a horse. By ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Knights were also important to the structure of feudalism because they protected peasants, they did
this in return for a share of what the peasants produced. Feudalism was a system based on loyalty
where the serfs worked hard and the nobles protected them, this system was used to govern all
people in the Middle Ages. A knight was a member of a medieval army who wore armor and used
crude but effective tactics to win battles, they charged at the enemy with swords and shields to take
out enemy soldiers. Without these charming warriors the feudal system would have crumpled
because of lack of protection in the lower

Anglo Saxon England Research Paper
Until today, the English monarchs bear the title "Duke of Normandy." Anglo–Saxon England refers
to the period of English history from the end of Roman Britain and the establishment of Anglo–
Saxon kingdoms. Through the sub–Roman period of English history, there is a strong cultural link
back to the period of Roman occupation. Relations were closer with Scandinavia than with central
Europe. Despite the geographical proximity of the French coast when the Anglo–Saxon period
ended and the Norman period began. Moreover, this comparative isolation from Europe also ended.
By the end of the Anglo–Saxon period, England had taken the shape of the country that continues to
be the Kingdom of England now within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Throughout the long Anglo–Saxon period of England's history, the kingdoms existed as an offshore
island of continental Europe. The subsequent mixture of Anglo–Saxon and Norman French cultures
became, over the years, a foundation for integrating England into the European cultural life. Anyone
who believed that history is not only a series of accidents might well see God's hand behind the
creation of an empire. England also became embroiled in a series of European ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The king's revenue came only from his personal demesne, which in 987 was merely the modern–
day. Furthermore, other than these territories, the king did not personally rule over any part of what
is now France. He merely received the homage of those who did. Twelve of these lords were known
as the peers, because within their territories, their authority was as complete as the king's within his,
which included the Droits Régaliens. Some of these peers were actually richer and more powerful
than the king himself, a notable example being the counts of

Essay on Feudalism
Feudalism
Western Europe suffered numerous hardships through the ninth and tenth centuries and this was the
ultimate reason they established a new political organization which was known as feudalism. By
providing honor, protection, and a sense of control, this new social system revived peace and order
in Western Europe after the fall of the Carolingian Empire. Feudalism was a necessary ingredient to
yield stability in during these times of calamity. The primary motive behind creating this
organization was to render protection to the people since the government was unable to do so.
Instead of depending on the Government as their defense, people resorted to finding a powerful lord
who could grant protection in exchange for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Then they would grant portions of this land to vassals who in return would fight for their lord. The
relationship between the lord and vassal became official by having a public ceremony. In the
ceremony the vassal would perform an act of homage to his lord. This alliance was based on loyalty.
During the ninth century, the land that was granted to a vassal was now known as a fief. After
owning the land for a while, many vassals would possess the power to exercise rights of jurisdiction
or political and legal authority within their fiefs. When the Carolingian political system began to
fall, because of numerous invasions and internal differences, various powerful lords arose. Now it
was the people's job to keep order, they could no longer depend on the government. Since number of
lords substantially increased, the number of vassals multiplied also. This abundant increase brought
about the development of subinfeudation. This is where fief–holding became complicated. Vassals
of a king might also have vassals who might owe them military service for land that was granted to
them. These vassals sometimes also had other vassals under them who might only have enough land
to provide their equipment. Even though this system brought about greater and lesser landowners,
this relationship was still honorable. Since this was a willing relationship between free men, it was
not based on servitude. This

Sword American Weapons
(AGG) Have you ever not seen a knight with a sword? That's because swords were very effective
weapon and where very important to a knight. (BS 1) The sword is has many uses and is very import
to defending and attacking knight. (BS 2) Feudalism was a very effective economic structure from
the middle ages. (BS 3) The sword was necessary to the protection of feudalism. (TS) Feudalism
meet everyone's needs by giving them food and protection for money or hard labor and, The military
is created when a king needs an army he calls upon his vassals in which the knight are loyal to.
Swords help feudalism by giving the knights a tool to protect their kingdom with.
(MIP 1) Swords where a military need. (SIP A) The sword is a very effective weapon for ... Show
They were connected to families and the way people lived. (SIP A) The sword was involved with the
status quo of feudalism. (STEWE 1) Special swords ran in the Family Tree and some swords were
handed down like family heirlooms (Keen 75). When you are becoming a knight the blessing of the
sword which is the rite of making a new knight is very important (Keen 47). Knights believed that
swords were more than just metal to knights the two sides of the blade stand for justice and loyalty
(Keen 7). The knights were loyal to their lords and the blessing of the swords stand for the lords
warriors (Keen 53). (STEWE 2) The sword would be gridded and then placed in the hands of the
new knight (Keen 64). The blessing of the sword directly relates to the coronation rites (Keen 72).
When you are becoming a king you also get girded (Keen 72). When you are girded a person or a
body part is encircled with a belt or band. The Hitherto is a type of gird that is admission to a higher
status group (Keen 73). (SIP B) Special swords in story or swords that belong to important people
had names and culture. (STEWE 1) Many important swords have inscriptions (Norman 234). Many
swords from epics or tales like Beowulf have special names. In the epic Beowulf the Beowulf has a
sword named Hrunting. (CS) Swords have a deep and rich connection to

Manor And Feudal System Essay
The manor and feudal system during the middle ages shaped the society of Western Europe because
it both allowed protection to the serfs (peasants/ workers) from attacking tribes and barbarians as
well as gave nobility power and control of society. The manor system consisted of a large plot of
land given to a vassal by a king or a lord. A vassal was a deputy of the lord and was responsible for
making sure that the work on the manor was getting done. He got his manor from a feudal contract
that was called the fief which was a pledge to a lord or king that he would be their vassal for life. In
exchange for this promise, the vassal got protection from his enemies for life as well as an estate. On
the manor there was a manor house where the vassal ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The serfs would work on large manors or on smaller villages guarded by knights and would provide
food for the rest of the hierarchy. This was a mutual respect system in which land and protection was
given down the hierarchy and goods and services such as food and tax money was given up. During
the middle ages there were many threats from barbarian tribes most notably the vikings and some of
the Germanic tribes that prompted the creation of feudal systems and the manor. While this
protected the serfs and other people who other wise would not be able to defend themselves, this
also gave power the nobility and allowed them to heavily tax the lower class. In addition to
corruption, this gave the upper class and the nobility far more control over the people of the
kingdoms and could have also caused many of the problems during the middle ages. Feudalism only
really worked if the respect and service went both ways which only worked if the nobility respected
the serfs and vise versa. As a result of this, feudal and manor systems shaped Western European
society because the gave protection to the lower class while giving more power and control to the
upper

Feudalism: Economic Military And Government System
(MIP–1) Feudalism developed an economic military and government system that has never been
repeated by any other group of people in history (s1 9)
(SIP–A)Feudalism was distinguished by the giving of land and labor, in return for political and
military services(s2 1)
(STEWE–1) The king was at the top of feudalism and received his land from God. Noblemen were
under the king, and second most powerful, and loyal to him as he gave them their lands, which were
called fiefs(s1 47)
(STEWE–2)A typical noble owed his lord the service of a few hundred knights. These knights had
to be given sections of his land, called fiefs, in exchange for their service(s1 51)
(SIP–B)Feudalism was a contractual system of political and military relationships among the
nobility and the powerful(s2 1) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This increased his wealth and helped the economy. This also ensured people got their food and had
ways to earn income.
(SIP–B) The vassals could have many jobs which helped make the manor self–sufficient.
(STEWE–1) Both Freemen and serfs provided specialists to the village(s3 230). Some of these
specialists were the smith, who made horseshoes, nails, knives, hinges, locks, bolts, and sometimes
weapons. Another one is the miller, who might have an easy life but was often accused of all sorts of
things(s3 230). There were also bakers, priests, ale tasters, and many more.
(STEWE–2) Around the house there were buildings like the kitchen, bakery, workshop, brew
houses, stables, barns, and cellars (s2 7). The lord of the manor would build these and then required
his people to use them in order to increase his money and make a profit to keep his manor running
which would then support feudalism(s2 8). This allowed the lord to have a steady income and gave
more resources to the peasants which helped make the manor more

William Shakespeare 's The Elizabethan Era
Queens played a very important role in medieval history. They had many tasks to complete in the
day. Queens could be linked to king through marriage, family, and property, queens were vital to the
Monarchy.
They don't just stand around looking pretty queens had several responsibilities during the day!
Queens had to help the king and other nobility find ways to spy on rivals, ignite conflicts, and
simply spread important gossip.They were often mothers who had to take care of a child or
childs.Queens often scheduled events that she and the king would attend throughout the land that
they owned. Queens were very important in the castle. The queen was also very important and was
needed often. They were important because without them, it would end the line of royalty because
there would be no prince or princess to inherit the throne. Queens were often set to spy on enemies
in battle. Without them, the kingdom would begin to fall apart when there is no one to inherit the
throne. To wrap that all up, queens are a very important part of the kingdom!
Queens had tools, supplies, and skills too. They wore crowns/ tiaras every time they left the castle
and sometimes in it. A queen cannot be a queen without her throne! Another thing is they had to
have perfect posture and need to be graceful too. You have to admit, that is actually a lot of work.
As you can see queen is very important.
The Daily life of a queen is commonly underestimated, they too had tasks they needed to
accomplish in

Obligation In The Middle Ages
The idea of the "three orders" directly illustrates that mutual obligation was an important part of
medieval life, and it does so in several different ways. The "three orders" are those who pray, those
who fight, and those who work. Through mutual obligation, the people on each side of the bargain
get something in return. But, even though each person gets something in return, it doesn't mean that
what they receive is always amazing. The main system for medieval society was the system of
allegiance between vassals and their lords, however it only refers to one of the three orders of
medieval society.
One of the "three orders" is those who prayed. Those who prayed were obligated to devote their
lives to prayer and to the Church. They were usually monks, cardinals, priests, nuns, and other
members of the clergy. Those who prayed were also responsible for the well–being of all Christians
in Europe. In return for their services, these members of the clergy, etc. were protected and allowed
to live on the lord's land. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Those who fought were obligated to provide military services to their lord and protect those who
worked and lived on the land. Those who fought were the vassals, dukes, the lesser nobility, and
knights. They were responsible for handling any threats and fighting that occurred on their lords'
lands. In return for their service, these knights, etc. received fiefs. Fiefs are grants of land from a
lord. These knights, etc. also became vassals of the lord because when you receive a fief, you swear
your allegiance to this lord and become a vassal. Although, there was an error that caused many
problems with this system. This error was that knights and vassals could swear their allegiance to
many different lords, which made for complicated relationships when it came to fighting. Those
who fought were the backbone of medieval

Medieval Feudalism
Everyone gained and got something from feudalism, even Kings. In the Medieval Ages, Kings gave
land in return for what his part of the feudal system. All the land in Medieval Europe was owned by
the Kings ("People of the Middle Ages"2), and the king would make laws, with ministers and
parliament (Macdonald, 30). Since there was only one of him, he gave land to loyal Lords and
Knights to rule land ("People of the Middle Ages"). The king would give land to Knights, who
would become vassals. The king even allowed peasants to make a living off his land which would
take place in for example a manor run by a Lord or vassal (Brooks 1). From the feudal system,
Kings also gained many things. From the Knights turned vassals, a king would gain military
services from them ("People of the Middle Ages"2). ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Even the food between a king is different from a peasant, this showing their wealth. A king's meal
could include stew, roast, and pudding, this was a rich diet but unhealthy diet, with no fear of
starvation (Macdonald, 21). This food was given to the King by the peasants who he let on his land
(Nardo 25). The king would gain someone to look after part of his ruling area but also protection for
himself and his empire from the the vassal. Feudalism had something to offer everyone economy
wise, even Kings.
Lords and vassals were in charge of the land given to them by the King. Feudal Lords gained many
things from feudalism. First with Lord, when the Lord gives land to a vassal, he gains protection for
himself and his manor ("People of the Middle Ages"). A Lord also gains wealth from food, rent,
fines, and fees given to him by the peasants on the manor (Cels). Whatever was made on the manor
could belong to the Lords for he was charge of the serf and the wealth. Besides from Lords, vassals
also gained many things from being in charge of a manor. Vassals ruled over the serfs on his land,
which was called a fief and was given to him by the king ("People of

Why Is Feudalism Important In The Middle Ages
In our society, we believe money is the key facet for power, however, in the medieval ages, money
barely had any value compared to land. Feudalism was a political, economic and social system
which organized the government by using land. The manor was a key aspect of feudalism because it
was where the feudal levels worked together to improve the economy. One of these feudal levels
contained the shepherd, who was an important role in the manor as he helped feudalism's ability to
meet its people's needs. Feudalism allowed for military to protect the culture of its people, and
without the shepherd, the whole system would have collapsed (Biel 9).
Feudalism was an important part of the Middle Ages (Biel 8). This system was created to organize
the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It helped the European empire rise from the dark ages, making the empire civilized. Charlemagne, a
Frankish King who reigned for about half a century, used feudalism as a base for building his empire
by establishing a central government (Biel 20). The key to be successful in the feudal system was
land, and the fiefs would be given based off of loyalty. During the Medieval times, the people who
owned land had power. Land provided the possibility to gain military and political power (Nardo
14). Because of this, the feudal system evolved to become a political tool to gain land and power.
There are 3 main levels in this system, that depend on each other to get what they need and
contribute to others. Firstly, the king, who gave fiefs in exchange for an army to protect his empire.
Then the vassals, who receive the

The Late Century French Noble Constructed By Odo Of Cluny
The early medieval nobility consists of elites within society of a higher social and political status
due to their wealth, lineage, and reputation within the community. It can be argued that Gerald, a
10th century French noble constructed by Odo of Cluny embodies the social and political role of the
nobility at the time, most prominently represented in his key role as a lord with heightening power
in the ever developing feudal system, and integrally linked with this, his unwavering loyalty to the
king and monarchy. In contrary, Gerald portrays many qualities that arguably do not mirror the likes
of a 10th century noble such as his questionable masculinity and sexuality – reflected through his
pacifistic nature – and his greater focus on ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Bisson describes this as "power without restraint", which, perhaps backwardly, is reflected in
Gerald's lack of aggression – he is able to take matters into his own hands and disregard the general
higher authority consensus on how vassals should be managed. However, countering this localised
power – yet underpinning Gerald's role as a noble with political influence – is his refusal of William
of Aquitaine's offer to join forces and thus enforcing his loyalty to the king. At the time, political
power was gained by a positive and resilient relationship with the king, as Airlie suggests that "The
motor that propelled fortunate members of the aristocracy across Europe was royal favour and
patronage" . This devotion strengthens Gerald's perceived role of reflecting a typical noble's political
influence, as nobility was at its strongest when showing loyalty to the Carolingian kingship.
However it can be argued that Gerald did not reflect the political role of a noble in the 10th century,
shown through his greater obligation to monastic duties than secular political influence. Gerald wore
"old fashioned woollen or linen clothes" as "his strength lay in God rather than in gold or the
multitude of riches" . This was unlike nobles at the time, who undoubtedly would have gained more
political control by looking presentable and appearing as a typical respectable noble. Although
religion would have been an integral feature in the lives of nobility,

The Pope 's Official Register
Dictatus Papae, inserted in the pope's official Register in 1075, can be considered the most
important document involved in the lay investiture controversy. The document outlines 27
statements of power under the Catholic Church, and it is the first time that a document grants the
pope power to depose an Emperor. The document most likely written, or influenced, by Pope
Gregory VII came in wake of the lay investiture controversy between the Holy Roman Emperor
Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII. Lay investiture is when lay, or worldly, kings and emperors invests
in bishops, appointing them to bishops of the area in which they rule. It was extremely common for
the bishops that were chosen to also be the Emperor's vassal as well. In return the bishop would
encourage and help the Emperor's rule over their territory. There had hardly been any push back
from the papacy in regards to this practice (Jordan p. 85–87). The bishops would take the sides of
the emperors because most owe them for giving them their position. The height of the controversy
started when a monk named Hildebrand, who believed strongly in reforming the papacy and the
church, was swept into office. Hildebrand would take on the name Gregory becoming Pope Gregory
VII. Gregory would first forbid married priests to perform sacraments in December 1074, then two
months later, he prohibited lay investiture (Jordan p. 91). Henry IV and most of the German bishops
would denounce these papal decrees declaring that since the

What Makes A Society Feudal?
What makes a society feudal? To answer this I am going to look at two important ideas which Duus
brings up. The first important idea that he presents is that feudalism has no definition that everyone
agrees on, which has created controversy surrounding the question of Japan 's Feudalism. Duus
addresses this controversy and then shows that he believes Japan did indeed have feudalism due to
having many similarities with European feudalism. The second important point is that the vassal
system, particularly that of military men, is a defining feature in Japan 's feudalism. He shows that
the rise, and later decline, of the vassal system is crucial in holding together Japan 's feudalism.
When vassals began to shift from a military focus to a more aristocratic one, the feudal system
declined and eventually faded entirely. The first important idea is that there is disagreement on what
feudalism is, and that despite the different interpretations of the word, Duus shows that due to Japan
's similar traits with Western Europe, he believes Japan to have gone through a Feudal period. He
explains that there are two extremes for the definition of feudalism. The first extreme is that
feudalism is exclusive to Western Europe, particularly northern France. The second extreme is the
Marxist view that all societies go through a feudal stage as they pass from ancient society to a
modern society. The middle ground opinion is that a feudal system is not exclusive to Western
Europe, and is a

Nineteenth Century: The European Feudal System
The European Feudal system was developed around the twelfth century. It was developed as a way
for the poor and lower class people to be protected from the incoming viking and barbarian
invasions. This system offered something to the people that they could never achieve by themselves.
It was a completely beneficial system, meaning that everyone involved received advantages from it.
The main groups of people involved were the King, then the Nobles or Barons, then the Knights,
and then finally the Pheasants. The pheasants were the poor people before they were in the feudal
system. They were the ones that needed the protection from the incoming viking and barbarian
invasions. They worked the land and offered help in any way that they could. They completed
menial tasks that the owners of the land, the nobles, did not want to complete, and they did this all
without being payed. The question is, Why? Why would a poor person willingly submit himself or
herself to someone else with no pay? They did this for something more valuable than money, they
did it so they could be protected from the incoming viking and barbarian invasions. Being a
pheasant was not actually that bad. They got eight to ten weeks off each year. They also did not ...
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They were given the arduous task of protecting the pheasants. They also protected everyone else that
lived on the land of the baron or noble. Knights were hired by the baron to protect his land from the
vikings and barbarians. They were payed money for their services. If a viking raiding party tried to
raid the land of the noble, then the knights would defend the fief. They would protect the pheasants,
the baron, and the family of the baron. The easiest way to become a knight would be to be a son of
the noble. They wore heavy metal armor and carried a sword. The knights lived in the castle of the
noble, but on the lower

Feudalism with The Lords and Vassals Essay examples
Feudalism is a lord–vassal relation with a fief or as called land. During this time there were many
rulers with violent conflicts. The kind of relationship the two men worked out in practice depended
on power, wealth, and personal qualities such as ingenuity, daring, and ruthlessness. To avoid
discord and violence, lord and his dependant had to constantly negotiate new agreements to deal
with each crisis as it arose. There were three points of evidence that supported the relations on
security and violent conflicts. The three points are loyalty, land/fief, and power. By the eighth
century, the Germanic society of warriors led by chiefs had been formalized into relationships
between lords and vassals (The West, pg. 166). Vassals swore ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Hugh IV owned a lot of property such as the fortresses of Parthenay, Civray, and Chize'. An example
would be of Hugh IV listening to Count William in breaking off the engagement with Ralph's
Daughter. Hugh had refused Viscount Ralph's offer of marrying his daughter, because he was
offered a better deal by Count William. The reason why Count William told him to do so is because
he promised Hugh close friendship and support. The Count William treated Hugh greatly because of
his loyalty to them. Hugh was a very loyal person towards all his superiors. One superior that Hugh
was not fond of was Count Fulk. An example would be Count William telling Hugh to build a
fortress, so it would make Count Fulk jealous. This plan did work as Count Fulk was angry and
demanded the fortress from them. Count William told Count Fulk that he would have to take his
matter up with Hugh. When Count Fulk did so Hugh told him that he would need hostages from
Fulk's men. Fulk refuses to do so and tells Hugh that he will not abide by him. This is all about
having loyalty and not having loyalty. The fief was in between the loyalty and power. The lords and
vassals fought for many years over fiefs. The fief is just a tool for understanding the loyalty between
the lords and vassals. Some of the fortresses they had built were called Thouars, Vivonne, Civray,
Chize', Confolens, and Gencay. In the

The Feudal System And The Fall Of Feudalism In Europe
During medieval times the feudal system was practiced in England, the feudal system was a
hierarchy of different social classes where the Church was at the top and working peasants were at
the bottom. The feudal system was introduced in Europe around the 8th century, with the
Carolingian dynasty and Charles Martel granting land to his nobles ("History of Feudalism").
Feudalism does not spread through Europe until the 10th century, when most European countries
become primarily Christian. The downfall of feudalism appears around the 13th century, feudalism
becomes problematic due to the growth of corruption within the system. The core principles of
feudalism begin to fade in exchange for greed. No longer were fiefs expected to repay the king with
an army, but instead with cash. Additionally it became increasingly harder to become a fief, as the
status of a fief was passed down from family members. While feudalism dissolves into government
where the king rules over all and collects taxes in many countries, feudalism remains in multiple
countries, including Germany, Italy, and France ("History of Feudalism"). The remaining feudalism
systems in Europe are dismantled as a result of the French Revolution or Napoleon in the 15th
century.
Church was one of the largest parts of a Medieval citizen's life. Children were expected to learn
basic prayers and attend church each week, working men and women were expected to contribute a
large portion of their earnings towards their taxes for

Middle Ages: Dark, Faithful, And Feudal
During the Middle ages it experienced many things that would be considered dark, faithful, and
Feudal. The Middle ages were dark because they were attacked by several disasters; including the
Bubonic plague, robberies connected to pirates and "booty". The Middle ages were faithful because
during these dark times there was no government, so everyone had to go and connect with their local
church and the churches had to be the government figure for everyone. The churches eventually got
lots of the church to go fight for the Crusades, which lasted for a hundred years. The Middle ages
would have been called Feudal because the Feudal system was their social order and that's how they
operated in life. If I could label the Middle ages it would be dark ... Show more content on
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The middle ages could be labeled as faithful because before it was dark everyone was looking up to
the church for help, guidance and just somewhere to spend time and learn apart from working long
hours on fiefs. Proof of the church being a big impact on the middle ages is seen in the excerpt from
the monotheistic vows of brother Gerald, in this excerpt from document eight where it states "I
hereby renounce my parents, my brothers and relatives, my friends, my possessions... and the vain
and empty glory and pleasure or this world. I also renounce my own will, for the will of god. I
accept all the hardships of the monotheistic life, and take the vows of purity, chastity, and poverty, in
the hope of heaven; and I promise to remain a monk in this monastery all the days of my life." This
shows that people would give up their own families and everything they own to become closer to
god. More evidence of the age of faith defining the middle ages is seen from the excerpt 1095 when
Pope Urban II issued a call for a holy crusade – a war to recapture the holy land "...for most of you
have heard, the Turks and the Arabs have attacked them and have conquered the territory of the
Byzantine empire...they have occupied more and more of the lands of those Christians...they have
killed and captured many, and have destroyed the churches and devastated the empire...All who die
by the way, whether by land or sea, or in battle against the pagans shall have immediate remission of
sins." This shows that the church had so much power that they could create a religious army by just
telling people they will go to heaven if they die on the crusade, which shows a lot of strength within
the

Feudalism In Europe During The Middle Ages
"Feudalism was a political and economic system and culture in Europe during the Middle Ages"
(Sheldon) In 911 AD, Charles the simple, king of France, granted Rollo, head of a Viking army, a
part of French territory known as Northmen's Land or Normandy. Rollo then swore a pledge of
loyalty to the king ("Feudalism in Europe" 360). 850 to 950 AD was the worst time of invader's
attacks. Charles and Rollo made similar agreements to make system of government called
feudalism. It was also based on rights, obligation, landholding and protective alliances ("Feudalism
in Europe" 360). A lord, which is also a landowner, granted other people land called a fief in return
of military protection or other services ("Feudalism in Europe" 360). The protection

The Role Of The Manorial System In Medieval Europe
The manor system and the lady of the manor both had significant roles in medieval Europe and
helped Europe's economy survive after the fall of the Roman Empire. The manor system, also
referred to as manorialism, developed after the fall of the Roman Empire when, without any
centralized government to run everyone, people felt a lack of security, especially serfs. Serfs
eventually graduated back to the land they once worked because the did not know where else to go.
As agricultural developments such as the three field system and the iron plow arose, people started
to realize how valuable manors were, and they started to pop up around medieval Europe. The
manor system offered stability and provided serfs with a place to live and basic protection, ... Show
The manor system helped slaves find a sense of security (Blackwell), provided people with places to
live and work, and helped Europe's economy survive after the fall of the Roman Empire. Ladies of
nobility during the time helped keep their husband's manors running while they were away (Alchin
1), made sure the entire household was taken care of (Alchin 1), and preserved and increased the
value of the manor (Dean, pp. 56–68). Also, many connections can be made to the present, both
about manorialism and the lady of the manor, because of the successful example they presented
during the Middle Ages in Europe. After the fall of the Roman Empire, manorialism gave people
hope for the future and helped improve the lives of

Feudalism Dbq
Document 1) A: The Feudalism provided protection and military services for their families. Nobles
agreed to give their loyalty to the king. As the peasants worked the land for the knights and nobles
and which they gave to them was protection and a portion of the harvest to feed their families.
Document 2) A: The manor was a largely self sufficient system in which the lord's land was farmed
by his serfs slaves bound to the land. The manor didn't just include farmers, but artisans who had
provided needs for the manor. The Serfs didn't have any freedom. For working 6 days of a week ,
they were granted one day to farm to feed their families. Feudalism basically already provide
protection and military services to people, as long as they had worked. The ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
B:
Document 3). A: They would have such a good appeal on people because do to that they wanted as
in paying taxes to the church. They believed they would get an everlasting life, and that happiness
after their lives were short and hard. Churches had a hold on everybody who wanted things from
above and letting their newborn child into a life of God , and God's Church.
Document 4). A:The farmers handled this way in they had fed themselves since there wasnt any
proper way. So they grew food in the fall , and they saved some for the winter that way they
wouldn't be going without.
Document 5). A: That you should follow by what these rules say, and believe in what church teaches
you.
In Europe 40 was considered old, one–half of the children never lived to their first birthday. 95% of
the population lived in rural areas where the homes were grouped together for safety. The men went
to the fields at dawn and returned at night. The feudal times had a series of manors that

Vassalage And Senmenment In The Song Of Roland, Oliver And...
The word, vassalage will have a different meaning to different people and their personalities. This
will cause people to argue about how to deal with situations and what course of action is the best
option.
According to Merriam–Webster Dictionary, vassalage is defined as a position of subordination or
submission to a political power. While a vassal is someone who is under the protection of someone
with authority such as a feudal lord. This person (vassal) will feel obligated to vow their loyalty to
that person in power. In "The Song of Roland", Oliver and Roland both have a different definition
on what makes a great vassal. This paper will discuss both viewpoints on what makes a "marvelous
vassal", why the poet used Roland and Oliver to balance out vassals, and a brief understanding of
vassalage and fief holding.
First, a vassal and fief holding is more than just someone of lower status being obedient to their
ruler and using their land to pay them. According to Britannica, some vassals were apart of their
lord's court as household knights. Although, vassals who did not live in their lord's court were
required to have a fief in order to sustain his land and have a solid holding of his service for his lord
and/or king. However, if the vassal did something to violate or break his allegiance to his lord then it
could result is a felony. This could explain why Roland refused several times to use his horn to call
Charlemagne. However, he mentioned several times that calling

Redmont Fief: Summary
The setting of this book is in the medieval times in Redmont Fief. The main character of this book is
Will. He has always wanted to be a knight because he thought his father was a knight and wanted to
follow in his footsteps. He wasn't accepted to be a knight and became a Ranger's apprentice. His
master's name is Halt. Morgaroth is stirring up an army and They need to retrieve information about
their enemies. Since Will's parents die he is a ward in the castle Redmont. He wanted to live up to
his father so he always wanted to be a knight. When he gets accepted to be a Ranger, Will us unsure
because he knows Rangers as mysterious and uncanny. First he gets trained with Ranger tools and
learn to make himself "invisible". Later, a beast called

Feudal Society Structure
6. Q: What were the basic underlining structures what are found in each feudal society and what
purpose did these structures serve?
A: The fiefs under feudalism all contained basic structures that were essential in maintaining a fully
sustainable community. Some basic structures include water mills, houses, barns, and workshops, all
self explanatory. The three most important structures were the church, the manor, and a three field
crop rotation complex. The manor was considered the brain of the fief, which provided shelter to the
vassals and his staff, as well as a place for royal celebrations such as feasts. The church as a part of
daily life for everyone working of the fief, including the vassal, and was seen as the most important
structure ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This was called "Feudal Justice", and gave nobles the ability to create court cases to settle disputes
between the defendants and the accused. These courts usually ended with the accused having to pay
a fine, which brought considerable income to the nobles throne, however, ordeal by God and trial by
combat were considered equally as effective in proving innocence. This system of justice brought
the same political power of the feudal system itself, knights could not accuse the king, but peasants
could call other peasants to be accused. Under this system, the daily lives of peasants could be
brought into question, however, both the accused and the accuser would receive the same treatment,
and if the accused was not found guilty, the accuser would receive the punishment. This created a
system that discouraged the use of judicial courts for personal gain, and disallowed the ability to
move higher in terms of social status("Feudal

The Baron: Why Did I Hate The Baron?
Today the Baron had a grand banquet for the many knights and ladies under his rule. It makes me
sick to think about how they can sit up there in their big, lavish castle, eating their fine food, and
laughing at each others jokes, while we sit, assemblage in our lodging around a fire with scarcely
sufficient food to get through each day. The Baron robs us blind with his horrible taxes. I hate him.
The knight who owns our fief, Sir Beringer, is very good to us, and tries to inferrer our taxes, but
there is only so much he can do. Father had to cleave more wood today. It looks as however it will
be an extremely cold winter this year. We were lucky to have achieve the crops in as quickly as we
did, as there is before a thin wisp of snow in the

Different Cultures Within The Same Time Period During The...
In order to embark on two different cultures within the same time period during the middle Ages
there needs to be a clear contrast between the two. In the Western Middle Ages where the emergence
of lords and vassals came about there was sworn loyalty by vassals to their lords of whom took care
of them. In return the vassals would serve, protect and honor their lords. Therefore the mutual
obligations of lords and vassals was to honor one another. Vassals doing so with their military
services to protect the lord and his family. Lords doing so with their gift of land for the vassals and
their families. In all levels the obligations always created an honorable connection between free men
and did not imply any sense of slavery. In discussing the importance of the relationship between
lords and vassals also brings up another important practice. Fief holding, this was the land or income
granted to the vassal in return for military service. Many vassals who held land deeds also were
granted legal and political authority within their fiefs. These vassals would create a single
government and become lord of their area. Fief holding became very complicated, there were Kings
who had vassals and these vassals were known as lords. The lord's vassals subdivided their fiefs and
also had vassals of their own, who also subdivided their fiefs and had vassals. This when on down
the line to knights who also had fiefs but were too small to divide. Unaware of the eastern
civilization

The Vassals: The Myth Of Feudalism
Vassals were another essential role of feudalism, who had an extremely important relationship with
their king, or higher vassal. The vassals job was completely based off of trust with their king. The
vassals ruled over land that they were given by their king. In order to be given the land, vassals
promise loyalty and military service to their king or lord, this promise was called the Oath of Fealty
(Biel 9). Although the land that vassals ruled over technically belonged to their king, when they are
given the land they are given control over everybody and everything on the land (Biel 10). Vassals
had many responsibilities as the ruler of their land. Not only did the vassal vow his military service
to his lord, he also owed a fixed number of armed horsemen during times of war (Bishop 111). The
vassal also had to entertain his lord and their large and hungry suite, which is why the serfs had to
farm and produce such large amounts of food (Bishop 111). Another responsibility of the vassal was
that whenever summoned, he had to attend his lord's court, as a judge when he was needed. The
vassal did gain some significant ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Without kings there would be no feudalism, and the chaos of the Middle Ages would be sure to
continue. The king distributed his land to vassals, who in return would promise their military service
to their lord (Biel 10). Military service was helpful to lords because in the Middle Ages, land was
power, and the king needed to protect his land to keep his power. The king was at the top, which
meant he had many great privileges. His vassals had to produce food to feed him, which they gained
from taxing their serfs (Bishop 111). The king really didn't have much work, because he was fed by
his vassals, who also provided him with military service. Kings were the great organizers of the
Middle Ages and gained many significant

The Feudal System In Medieval Europe: 7th-14th Century A. D.
The Feudal System in Medieval Europe (7th‐14th Century A.D.) 1
A Summary by kiplangat cheruiyot
An Introduction
At the beginning of medieval age in Europe, based on a feeble resource of data, it is believed that
between 80‐90% of the economic activity was agriculture. Nearly everybody therefore, earned a
living through agriculture as an economic activity. The economic structure prevailing then became
known as Feudalism, a term which has come to mean, an economic system based on Lordship
(ownership) of vast Land (also known as the 'manor' or 'estate'), owned by a senior lord, who gave
the right of cultivation (fief) to a lower rank of people called the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The men below of lower rank were not slaves as such but in effect were workers without any rights
(given to servitude). They had no economic recourse other than the land and could not leave it. If
they did, the life away from the land was vandalism and adventure such as that of "Robin Hood"
which was rather much worse. In effect Feudalism was a political system which decentralized and
localized power. The system came to its Zenith at the beginning of the 12th Century. At this time
most of the farming land belonged to most senior people, dioceses and monasteries. It turned out
that administration of these estates became very difficult owing to the fact that most land owners
had come into possession through various, hereditary paths. They owed loyalty to various warring
vassals and thus administration of estates became very difficult. Politically, economically and
socially, the feudal system was a way of making administration and communication easier especially
to reach the furthest corners least populated or far stretched away from the centre. Those who gained
most were the lords and the higher vassals. Nevertheless, the system gave rise to contractual
obligations which maintained a semblance of economic well being for everyone. It also guaranteed
economic benefits paid

Feudalism In Song Of Roland Analysis
Feudalism in Song of Roland
Song of Roland, the oldest major surviving work of French literature, is an epic poem based on the
Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 C.E. between the Franks and the Basques. It is believed that the
epic circulated in song form before it was written down between 1040 and 1115 by Turoldus, a
Norman poet. The epic served a political role in inspiring the Frank Christian warriors during the
Crusades of the 1100's, a series of wars against the Islamic world over the control of Jerusalem. The
center of the story is Count Roland, a Christian knight from King Charles' army, and the fight
against King Marsilion and the Muslims of Saragossa of modern Spain. Due to the time in which it
was written, the epic features the social, political, and economic system of feudalism. Feudalism
was "based on the exchange of land for military service" (Alchin 1) between the king and his
vassals. This system was used in Christian medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. In
Song of Roland, feudalism is portrayed through the concepts of hierarchy, rights and obligations,
and the perfect knight.
Feudalism works through a socioeconomic hierarchy that is reflected in the epic. In Christian
medieval Europe, "feudalism...resembles a pyramid, with the lowest peasants at its base and the
lines of authority flowing up to the peak of the structure, the king" (Alchin 1). However, the
pyramid does not stop there, as God and the Pope, in that order, occupy positions at the top. The
king claimed ownership of all the land in the country, but he sometimes granted areas of land called
fiefs. The recipients of these areas were lords, who were men of high office. In the pyramid, these
lords were below the king and "pledged their loyalty by swearing to serve and protect [him]"
(Alchin 1). The lords gave some of this same land to the subordinate rank, the vassals. The vassals,
also called dukes and counts, were men who provided allegiance and services to the lords and the
king in return for fiefs. Among the vassals were the knights, who were "less powerful military men"
(Alchin 1) who fought for the lords and the king. Lastly, at the bottom of the pyramid were the
peasants, who "belonged to the [vassal's] land and

Knights Impact On Society
Many kings formed armies using feudalism. One way of gathering an army, was through their
nobles. Since the nobles received land from the monarch, they were obliged to get the knights the
king had asked for ("What was the impact 2). To gather the amount of knights the lords were told to
gather, the lords gave land to 'sub–tenants' ("What was the impact 2). And to lure knights into
service, they were offered incentives. Knights received incentives in return for their service. One of
the things they were given was wealth. Knights pledged loyalty and military services to a lord in
exchange for clothes, food, a home (sometimes in the castle), other manor –made items, and wealth
(Beil 14–15). These gifts were called fiefs. Some knights were given land as ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Also, when receiving land, the lord received power over the peasants of that village. Knights also
got support, a share of the treasure and goods that were taken in battle, and a sort of insurance. This
insurance was that if he died, his children were protected until the girl married and the boy became a
vassal, and that the widow and the land were protected (Smith 3). Also appealing to would–be
knights was the rise in status. Knights were given a fief, often land, making them a vassal, and
therefore a lord (Beil 15). Knights were considered to be like the rock stars of their time as they
were well off and thought as honorable, chivalrous, and wealthy (Nardo 29). Because of this they
were sought after by high class ladies looking for a husband, and by troubadours who looked for the
heroes of their songs (Nardo 31). Because of these advantages, the feudal oath became a political
tool where it previously had been a vow of military duty (Beil 9). It was understood that if he did
not uphold his promise it would all be taken back. (Beil 15). However, knights did not only gain as
they also had to work or their king/lord. A common time frame expected from knights for

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