HIS109Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Kfc, Feudalism, Stirrup
Ibraheem Aziz Sep 21/2015
HIS109Y – L0101 Lec 03
Feudalism
• public power in private hands
• Collapse of the Roman Empire – 5th century AD
o Patricians would be followed around by people, this helped to increase their reputations
and show their power
• Developed from indigenous groups and barbarians
• When Roman Army was weakened, private armies developed – were given honour and respect
for protecting powerful people
o Private security forces were close to tribal chieftains – they were his comitatus (group of
companions)
o Had the first crack at loots and booty after raids
o With barbarians, nothing was secure – near the 6th/7th century, idea developed that
protection had to be done privately
o This system became universal and dominant in western Europe, as there was no central
government and the end of the Roman communication system meant that society
became more localized
o 7th century – extreme fragmentation of a government developed
• When the stirrup was created, it allowed for horseback combat
o Training was needed to fight on horseback
o Expensive equipment needed, armour and horses
o Shift developed around allegiance to a leader
o Called knights and vassals – people who fight on horseback
• People who fought on horseback could not be farmers, had to live in leisure and train at all
times
o In order for them to live in leisure, others have to do the work!
o Peasants gave property (farms, labourers) to knights
o Farmers were attached to land, provide secure income and food for those who fought
ad did’t fight
• Connection between military service, land service and prestige led to feudalism
• Hereditary nobility created through this – land was power – this meant that people who lived
on land were also cared for and became part of the system
• Tribal chieftains transferred land to their elite soldiers to be assured of security
o Leaders delegated land/power to knights
o Fragmentation of power and authority in Europe
o Concept of statehood/government became ability of individual to enforce and impose
laws upon people
• Feudalism was successful and proved efficient
• Allowed small jurisdictions to operate independently
• Spread into England and Sicily with Norman conquest
o Changed by money and a cash economy
• With money, a new group formed in society – people who have money and education and
prestige, but own no land and are not priests
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