Feudal Society and the Fiefdom System Explained

The Structure of Feudal Society

Feudal society was divided into estates. Each estate was a closed group with little social mobility. People belonged to a group from birth for a lifetime. This was considered God's will, and people had to accept their fate. In this society, the laws did not apply equally to everyone. Society was divided into two main groups:

• Privileged classes: Nobility and clergy (had all the privileges and no duties).
• Non-privileged classes: Peasants and artisans (had all the duties and few rights).

At the top of the feudal system was the monarch, who was recognized as the primus inter pares.

The Fiefdom

A fiefdom was land given to a vassal by a king or noble, who became the feudal lord. The lord lived off rent and exercised authority over the peasants who lived there. It was not private property, but entailed property, meaning the lord could not sell the land but could pass it to his descendants.

This system involved obligations between the lord and his serfs:

• Economic rights: The lord received rent from the peasants for a plot of land to cultivate.
• Judicial rights: The lord had full authority within his fiefdom.

Peasant Classifications

Peasants lived in small villages or on isolated farms. There were two kinds of peasants:

• Free peasants: Owned their land, were allowed to get married, leave the fiefdom, and work in a trade.
• Serfs: Had to work, lacked personal freedom, and could not leave the land or marry without permission.

The Medieval Castle

The castle was the center of the fiefdom and provided refuge for inhabitants during attacks. Usually located on high ground for easy defense, the walls were 2.5 meters thick. Inside, the castle was dark and cold; tapestries sometimes decorated the walls, and there was minimal furniture. They used torches and fireplaces at night. Family members slept in the same room, while servants slept on the ground on pallets.

Peasant Life and Agriculture

Peasants worked from sunrise to sunset and most were very poor. The family participated in farm work: men did the difficult jobs, while women helped with the harvest, looked after the poultry, and took care of the vegetable garden.

To avoid depleting the soil, they practiced crop rotation:

• The two-field system.
• The three-field system.

They grew cereals, legumes, vines, olive trees, vegetables, and fruits. Peasants carried out subsistence agriculture, producing food only for themselves. A poor harvest could lead to drought and starvation. Trade was uncommon, families made products for themselves, and they maintained a poor diet.