Transcript MEDIEVAL HIERARCHIES-laura

European
Feudalism, 5001100 CE
600-1450 Lesson 7
Mixed Traditions
• Roman Legacy
– Christianity
– Social Stratification
– Concepts of loyalty,
wealth, & entitlement
• Germanic Traditions
– Tribalism & local
allegiance
– Superstition & fatalism
The Role of the Church
• Europe after fall of Rome
– Politically & culturally fragmented
– Church provides unity & common
ground
– Concepts of time & the future largely
apocalyptic
• The Pope
– “Supreme representative of God”
• Roman & early Christian origins
– Only common authority—even kings
bow to him
• What does he control? What do they?
The Church & Society
• Medieval society was extremely
ignorant; Church is sole source of
intellectual activity
– Literacy & responsibility of clergy
– Interpretations very simple & very literal
• Your primary concern--salvation
for your soul (domain of the
Church)
– Thus, what is the Medieval world
view?
• Importance of symbology
– Divine Right of Kings (Charlemagne)
Feudalism
• Social/political/economic system based
on the exchange of loyalties for servicebased (feuds) or land-based fees (fiefs)
• Conditions that allowed for this system:
– Lack of security
– New military technology
– Expense of political survival
The Feudal Arrangement
• Interested Parties:
– Lords: has economic &
political power, but needs
service
– Vassals: one who can provide
service but needs political &
economic support
• Vassals swear allegiance and
promise labor/military service to
lords in exchange for land and
protection
Feudalism Expands
• Over time, feudal arrangements linked
less to land, more to political power
–
–
–
–
Kings to other Kings
Kings to Clergy
Kings to Popes
Popes to Kings
Feudalism & Manorialism
• Feudalism establishes
loyalty for warring
classes
• Warring classes depend
on landed estates for
economic resources
• Estates worked by
peasants, who are
vulnerable to attack
• Peasants enter feudal
arrangement & become
serfs
Coercive Labor: Serfdom
• Peasants & Serfs: laboring
classes--about 85% of
Medieval society
– Peasants: poor landowners or
work the lord’s land in exchange
for rent--can move if they wish
– Serfs: tied to the lord’s land
because they owe a debt
(economic or political)
• By 1000, almost 90% of
European peasants are
enserfed
Women in Feudal Society
• Feudal society = military
society—male-dominated
• Critical social
responsibilities:
– financial management of
estates
– benefactors of religious
establishments, charity
• Code of Chivalry—women
idolized
• Ecclesiastical views:
feminine = temptation, evil
Conclusions:
• Medieval society was dominated by a rigid
hierarchy carried over from Roman &
Germanic traditions
• Everyone owed allegiance to someone-those with the most fiefs had the greatest
power
• The Church dominated everything--cross
doctrinal lines and you lose your wealth,
your relationships, and (theoretically) your
soul
Focus Activity
• In a paragraph or two,
explain the effects of
feudalism on European
development—what are
its impacts on the
economy, on social life,
on political development,
and on interaction with
other societies?
• Turn in before you leave
today!