HST 584 Lecture Notes - Feudalism
14 Dec 2011
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Land (estate: premogeniture: oldest sons inherit lands, given conditionally to a nobleman in exchange for military service, fief: estate. Monasteries: powerful institutions in society, abuse of power and position, see timelinne. Hommage: king gives land to nobleman (cassal) in exchange for military service, vassal swears homage to the king in a public ceremony. Hierarchy: (1) king, (2) dukes & counts, (3) nobility, abbott (head of monastery, (4) peasants (poor people, (5) serfs (attached to land) Western europe, other societies collected taxes: could overthrow weak leaders, western europe was cash poor at this point. Villages & townships: permanent villages are emerging, establishment of individual churches and small communities, village councils. Agriculture: basis of wealth, development of skilled labourers, crop rotation system, peasants given land to farm for themselves & lord, villagers shared a common pasture.
