Society and 'Feudalism' Cheat Sheet by cunla

Problem of dividing medieval society

Most people were knights, clergy, or peasants

Infant mortality still v high

→disease

→lay nobility: warfare

Most kings didn't die violent deaths

Higher clergy: longer lifespan

→depended on wealth­/ge­nde­r/o­ccu­pat­ion­/region

→often no birth dates, only death dates

Most western Europe: village societies

Lord owned land. Ruled popula­tion: owed him service, rent, allegiance

Free/u­nfree peasants = most of population

→Serfs: tied to lord's land

→Church opposed to Christians as slaves

→you're a serf? so are your kids!

Early middle ages: more land, less labour, serfs needed

End of 12th century: serf's role more defined

Assarting

For those free, society = mobile to an extent

→by 12th cent, merchant & artisan classes grew

→Merchants: organised market & trade

→ban didn't apply to Jews; Jewish merchants involved in moneyl­ending

By granting autonomy & privil­eges, everyone profited

→long tradition of civic life, some cities v rich & powerful

→11th cent: rise of port cities - Pisa, Venice, Genoa

These concep­ts/­terms in wide use since mid 19th cent

Legal histor­ians: 'feudal society' for specific legal rship

→overg­ene­ralise

Someargue terms are good to introduce students to the Middle Ages

→Lord: recruits knights, rewards w/ feudal bond

Homage: vassal kneels before his lord & places his hands in his lord's hands

Rship: mutual benefit

→Lord: got loyalty and military service

By 11th/12th cents, more common for vassals to have 1+ lord

→i.e. one lord at war w/ the other, who does vassal fight for?