Medieval European Feudalism Essay

Medieval European feudalism was an institution that served as a set of political and economic survival tactics from around the 8th century to 15th century AD. In the early middle ages, the political and economic climate in Europe was unstable after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Germanic invaders, such as the Franks, struggled to achieve a functional system of government to organize their territories because they basically had to build themselves up from the ground. Feudalism can be traced back to when Charles Martel, Frankish Mayor of the Palace, gave Pippin’s lands, like church lands, as benefices in exchange for military service while expanding the Carolingian territory. Later, after King Charlemagne of the Franks and his successor Louis
Consequently, the Europeans decided to partition the empire amongst the three sons by enacting the Treaty of Verdun. Charles the Bald became the King of West Francia, Louis the German became the King of Germany (East Francia), and Lothar became the king of southern countries and territory stretching to the North Sea. After the Treaty of Verdun divided the Carolingian empire in 843, the collapse of central European authority led to a series of ninth century invasions. Outsiders, like the Vikings and Magyars, initiated or intensified their attacks on western Europe because they viewed the weakness in European government as a perfect opportunity to take advantage of Europe and conquer territory. Due to several wars and invasions, kings struggled to rule their large territories with order and security. As a result, feudalism arose as a system of security not only for the European kings, but for everyone. The delegation of land amongst the social hierarchy allowed for direct, internal security within each country. Subsequently, the elimination of political and economic vulnerabilities strengthened the kingdoms and reduced the burden of external
Unfortunately, the feudal system was compromised because of events like the Crusades and the Black Death epidemic, which decreased the number of knights and serfs. Many serfs fled into towns, leaving their land untended, uncultivated, and short of labor services; this increased the need for serfs and made them as valuable as farmers, merchants, and craftsmen. Peasant-lord contracts replaced servile homage and serfs demanded more personal rights and tenure. In the towns, serfs began trading on their own and making their own money, stimulating economic growth. In places like France, it became possible for serfs to buy themselves their own freedom and emancipate themselves from their land bondage. Moreover, vassals eventually acquired the right to disunite from their fiefs, with the consent of their lord and with a payment of taxes, assemble their own vassals, and become lords