FEUDALISM & MANORIALISM IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES 800-1000

Obj: To understand the development of a new social ,

political and economic structure in the Early Middle Ages by

identifying events that forced the change.

THE EMERGING WORLD OF FEUDALISM SLOW PROCESS FROM FALL OF ROME TO LATE MIDDLE

AGES SOME SAY BEGAN AS EARLY AS CHARLES MARTEL: HE

HAD NO MONEY & SO PAID HIS SOLDIERS IN LAND AFTER TREATY OF VERDUN CAROLINGIAN RULES

BEGINS TO DIMINISH, KING LOSES POWER SO LOCAL LEADERS BEGIN TO INCREASE THEIR INFLUENCE WITHIN THEIR LANDS & LOYALTY OF PEOPLE SHIFTS

FEDUALISM IS BETWEEN SOCIAL EQUALS EMPIRE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO LOCAL

AREAS SO POWER SHIFT TO LOCAL LEVEL & NOBILITY GETS MILITARY LOYALTY

FEUDALISM FUNCTIONS AS A WAY TO ORGANIZE POLITICAL AUTHORITY

LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR SERVICE, USUALLY MILITARY 2 COMPONENTS: PERSONAL CALLED VASSALAGE &

PROPERTY CALLED BENEFICE

DISINTIGRATION OF THE EMPIRE BORDERS STRETCHED

BEYOND LIMITS – CENTRAL AUTHORITY DECLINED & LOCAL POWER INCREASED

INTERNAL DISCORD LED TO INVASIONS

VIKINGS LOSE TRADE REV-ENUE & RESORT TO RAIDING

CHARLES THE BALD 844 PAID OFF VIKINGS W/ 7,000 LBS SILVER

EARLY 10TH C. FRANKISH KING BOUGHT OFF NORSEMEN W/ LAND IN N. FRANCE AFTER 100 SHIP INVASION NORMANDY

SHORT TERM DEVASTATION

QUICK ASSIMILATION

ALFRED THE GREAT’S SUCCESS ENGLAND NEVER PART OF

EMPIRE; COMPETING SMALL KINGDOMS

VIKING THREAT UNIFIED THEM DEFEAT VIKINGS & AT SAME

TIME SUBDUED OPPOSING ROYAL FAMILES

ALFRED 871-899 & HEIRS BEGIN UNIFICATION OF ENGLAND

SET UP ARMY, FOUNDED NEW TOWNS, CODIFIED ENGLISH LAW, CREATED COURT SYSTEM

VERNACULAR RIVALED LATIN, BEOWULF

UNTIL 11TH C. ONLY VERNACULAR IN EUROPE USED FOR REGULAR WRITTEN COMMUNICAITON

VASSALAGE & BENEFICE DEVELOPED OUT OF

GERMAN SOCIETY – COMITATUS: WILLING TO FOLLOW POWERFUL LORD

ONE WHO SERVED LORD VASSAL – CELTIC ‘SERVANT’

PROPERTY ASPECT FUSED W/ SERVICE – COSTS $ TO FIGHT

LAND PROVIDED ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR VASSAL

KNIGHTS HAD TO ADAPT TO NEW CAVALRY FIGHTING FROM FOOT SOLDIERS & WILL ALSO COST TIME & MONEY

COMMON TRAITS OF FEUDALISM 1) TIES OF LOYALTY &

DUTY 2) LANDHOLDING 3) LOCAL RULE VERY DIFFERENT IN

DIFFERENT AREAS SO HARD TO GENERALIZEPARTICIPANTS IN FEUDALISM – RELATIONS AMONG EQUALS:

THOSE WHO SERVE- CLERGY

THOSE WHO FIGHT- KNIGHTS

THOSE WHO WORK- SERFS

FORMAL HOMAGE CEREMONY

PROBLEMS ARISEVASSALS OF VASSALS OF

VASSALS

MANORIALISM RELATIONS BETWEEN SOCIAL UNEQUALS WORK LAND, FIEF, IN EXCHANGE FOR PROTECTION PROSPERITY OF LAND GAVE MONETARY SUPPORT FOR

KNIGHTS BUT TOOK LOTS OF TIME TO LEARN HOW TO FIGHT ON A HORSE & HANDLE WEAPONS & TO STAY IN SHAPE FOR WAR

NEED SOMEONE TO WORK THE MANOR: AGRARIAN ESTATE

MANOR DEVELOPS DURING INVASIONS OF 6TH & 7TH CENTURIES

WILLINGLY (?) GAVE UP FREEDOM FOR PROTECTION – REALLY THEIR ONLY OPTION

BY 9TH C. 60% OF FREE POPULATION HAD BEEN REDUCED TO SERFDOM

TRADE DECLINED DUE TO WARFARE BUT STILL A DEMAND AMONG NOBLES FOR LUXURY GOODS FROM MUSLIM & BYZANTINE EMPIRES

BARTER BEGINS TO TAKE OVER BECAUSE DECLINE IN COINS, JEWELS ETC (PEOPLE HOARDING THEM)