Traditional Definition of Feudalism

Traditional Definition of Feudalism

      Every student of the Middle Ages is at least somewhat familiar with "feudalism. The term is usually defined as follows:Feudalism was the dominant form of political organization in medieval Europe. It was a hierarchical system of social relationships wherein a noble lord granted land known as a fief to a free man,who in turn swore fealty to the lord as his vassal and agreed to provide military and other services. A vassal could also be a lord, granting portions of the land he held to other free vassals; this was known as subinfeudation,and often led all the way up to the king. The land granted to each vassal was inhabited by serfs who worked the land for him , providing him with income to support his military endeavors;in turn, the vassal would protect the serfs from attack and invasion. Feudalism arose at a time when central governments were weak or nonexistent in Europe, and kings used the system to exert control over their subjects and secure military strength throughout their lands. In the absence of a strong monarchy and rule of law the feudal relationship between the lord and his vassal was the glue that held medieval society together.

      Of course, this is an extremely simplified definition, and there are many exceptions and caveats that go along with this model of medieval society ,but the same could be said of any model applied to a historical period. Generally，it is fair to say that this is the explanation for feudalism you'll find in most history textbooks of the 20th century, and it is very close to every dictionary definition available.

      Virtually none of it is accurate. Feudalism was not the dominant form of political organization in medieval Europe. There was no hierarchical system of lords and vassals engaged in a structured agreement to provide military defense.There was no subinfeudation leading up to the king. The arrangement whereby serfs worked land for a lord in return for protection, known as manorialism, was not part of a " feudal system". Monarchies of the early Middle Ages may have had their challenges and their weaknesses, but kings did not use feudalism to exertcontrol over their subjects, and the feudal relationship was not the " glue that held medieval society together". In short, feudalism as described above never existed in Medieval Europe.

      For decades , even centuries , "feudalism" has characterized our view of medieval society. If it never existed, then why did so many historians say it did for so long? Weren't there entire books written on the subject? Who has the authority to say that all those historians were wrong? And if the current consensus among the "experts" in medieval history is to reject feudalism, why is it stll presented as reality in ncarly every medieval history textbook? The best way to answer these questions is to engage in a little historiography. Let's begin with a look at the origin and evolution of the term "feudalism".

图片发自App