Brief Explanation and Definition
In its most general form, the term "feudalism" has been used to refer to the oppressive hierarchy in European society as a whole during the Middle Ages; however, it more accurately describes the specific economic, political, and social relationships between lords and vassals during that era.
Origin
The word "feudalism" derives from the Latin feudum, or fief, the land given by a lord to a vassal in return for military service. The terms of the contract varied considerably, but generally in granting his vassals land and thus a means to earn money, the lord was then able to equip and maintain a body of armed knights. Such an arrangement added not only to his military might but also to his prestige, as a large retinue was a tangible sign of a lord's wealth and power.
The origins of the feudal contract are hard to pin down, but most scholars agree that feudalism owed much of its character to the oaths sworn by Germanic warriors to their chief, a custom still in evidence as late as the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne at the turn of the ninth century CE; the Roman, and later Frankish, practice of granting benefices, or estates, in exchange for military or other services; and in the free surrender of personal property (commonly called an alod) to a lord, who then returned it as a fief. The context for feudal contracts was the series of Viking invasions in the ninth and 10th centuries, when kings were unable to meet every threat and local men with the power to repulse the invaders took a more prominent role in defense.
Different Levels of Feudal System
King: Being the one to rule and control, but not with acutally absolute power
Church Officials: Even though they were considered not to have a higher position than the king, they actually held more power. They could even decide whether the man could become the king or not as the religious effect had influenced all over the political system.
Nobles: They were mainly people with wealth and high social reputation, which meant they might cover up a lot of governing issues and part to officials, because they mainly have economic basis and social influence
Knight: They covered up the main source of military in the kingdom and fought for the honor of the kingdom and themselves.
Peasant: They produced and harvested, making sure that the whole kingdom could have enough basic supply like food and clothes.
Slave: They lived to obey and serve their masters.
The level decreases from up to down.
Comparison with today
In its most general form, the term "feudalism" has been used to refer to the oppressive hierarchy in European society as a whole during the Middle Ages; however, it more accurately describes the specific economic, political, and social relationships between lords and vassals during that era.
Origin
The word "feudalism" derives from the Latin feudum, or fief, the land given by a lord to a vassal in return for military service. The terms of the contract varied considerably, but generally in granting his vassals land and thus a means to earn money, the lord was then able to equip and maintain a body of armed knights. Such an arrangement added not only to his military might but also to his prestige, as a large retinue was a tangible sign of a lord's wealth and power.
The origins of the feudal contract are hard to pin down, but most scholars agree that feudalism owed much of its character to the oaths sworn by Germanic warriors to their chief, a custom still in evidence as late as the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne at the turn of the ninth century CE; the Roman, and later Frankish, practice of granting benefices, or estates, in exchange for military or other services; and in the free surrender of personal property (commonly called an alod) to a lord, who then returned it as a fief. The context for feudal contracts was the series of Viking invasions in the ninth and 10th centuries, when kings were unable to meet every threat and local men with the power to repulse the invaders took a more prominent role in defense.
Different Levels of Feudal System
King: Being the one to rule and control, but not with acutally absolute power
Church Officials: Even though they were considered not to have a higher position than the king, they actually held more power. They could even decide whether the man could become the king or not as the religious effect had influenced all over the political system.
Nobles: They were mainly people with wealth and high social reputation, which meant they might cover up a lot of governing issues and part to officials, because they mainly have economic basis and social influence
Knight: They covered up the main source of military in the kingdom and fought for the honor of the kingdom and themselves.
Peasant: They produced and harvested, making sure that the whole kingdom could have enough basic supply like food and clothes.
Slave: They lived to obey and serve their masters.
The level decreases from up to down.
Comparison with today