Feudalism In Europe And Japan

Two very different regions of the world, Europe and Japan, each independently developed very similar systems of feudalism, in which vassals held land from lords in exchange for military service. This system played a huge role in what these countries would grow to become. In both regions, the decentralization of the time period led to the development of constitutional governmental structures, and the distinct separation of classes impacted the creation of similar societies in which there was greater social mobility. On the other hand, it spurred an increase in trade and commerce in Japan, but a conversion from a land-based to a money-based economy in Europe.
Following the decline of feudalism, both Japan and Europe developed constitutional governments. The Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868,
providing a powerful emperor to rule Japan, which was necessary after the decentralized shogunates of the feudal era.
The emperor Meiji promulgated the Meiji Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, which positioned the emperor at the head of the government, giving him the ability to declare war, make peace, sign treaties, control the military, and formally enact all laws. This document was amended to become the Constitution of Japan in 1947, which is what the constitutional government in Japan abides by even today. Before the effects of feudalism, the governmental system in Japan had never been so highly centralized and orderly. A similar thing occurred in Europe when feudalism ended in their region. Many countries turned to a constitutional government. For example, in England, the Magna Carta was written in 1215, around the time the system of feudalism was beginning its descent. Because of the strong relationship between
classes during the feudal era, nobles felt they could somewhat affect the strength of the king, so they met in Runnymede to write a document to limit royal power by establishing a parliament and giving free men more rights, such as to a trial by jury. Previously, the governments in Europe had mainly been either decentralized or empires with a single ruler, but this early constitution, the Magna Carta, provided a new system of government, with a parliament, that would spread to Spain, France, Scandinavia, and parts of Germany. It is clear that the similar systems of feudalism in these two regions were crucial to their developments of new governmental structures.
A key aspect of feudalism in both the Japanese and European societies was a system of distinct hierarchical classes with a weak high power, lords and landholders, knights, and then peasants and serfs. In this system people could not move about. Even before feudalism took hold, the social classes allowed for very little mobility. Those who were born farmers died farmers, and those who were born elite died elite. It was very uncommon for an individual to move up in society, however, when feudalism declined, the rigid class system weakened allowing for increased mixing of classes. In fact, during the period known as the “Floating World” in Japan, when feudalism had ended and Meiji had not yet taken over, class mixing became more of the rule than the exception. In Europe as well, people had more freedom to interact as they please and were less defined by social laws. The increased social mobility that developed at the end of the feudal era was most likely because the people of these regions had been confined to a certain way of life for so long that, when things were shaken and they were given the opportunity, they sieged their chance for change, especially those of lower classes seeking to improve their standing.
The effect of feudalism on the economic activities of the two regions was very different. Prior to the 12th century, Japan had not had much contact with the outside world, being as it was an island. When the feudal system was in place, Japan traded primarily internally as well. Although, near the end of the feudal era, different regions of the decentralized nation began trading with other areas of the world, specifically the West. This opened up many trade routes for Japan as well as an increase in flow of wealth. However, in Europe, the primary effect feudalism had on the economy was the conversion from a land to money-based economy. Europe had always had an economy that relied around agriculture, especially in the feudal era when a source of currency or salary were the fiefs granted by lords to vassals in exchange for military service. Small portions of land were also sometimes given to serfs in exchange for labor, but when lords began trying to produce enough for commercial sales instead of just subsistence, it significantly impacted the European economy. The relationship between lord and serf quickly developed into that of an employer and an employee. Serfs began getting paid in money “cents”, and this new currency became a basis for the economy, rather than land. This obvious difference is likely to have occurred because Europe had already previously been involved in long distance trade, while Japan lagged behind in modernization.
All in all, the feudal system impacted Europe and Japan in similar ways. It helped create constitutional governments where decentralized governments had been before. In both societies, it also helped loosen the stiff grasp of social hierarchy and free people to have greater mobility between classes. Nonetheless, it still had different impacts on the regions because they were very different parts of the world. In Europe, feudalism led to the conversion from a land to money-based economy, and in Japan, it helped increase trade, where as previously Japan’s affairs had mainly been internal.