Feudalism and Medieval Society in Catalonia

Understanding Feudalism and Vassalage

Feudalism was the political, economic, and social system of the Middle Ages. The key features of feudalism included an increase in power over pagesos (peasants), political fragmentation, and the fact that administrative charges became hereditary. Vassalage was the core link of feudalism—an escrow service relationship based on friendship and protection agreed between two people. It followed a specific distribution in a pyramid structure and was hereditary.

Factors Driving Population Growth

Several factors drove population growth during this era:

• The abundance of land that could be cultivated.
• The interruption of large foreign invasions by various peoples.
• A reduced incidence of epidemics and hunger crises, which in previous occasions had affected harvests (collites).

The Territory of Old Catalonia

Regarding the counts of the Old Franks, Old Catalonia was the territory located between the Labrera mountains in northern Empordà, Tremp, and the imaginary line linking the middle course of the Segre, the Cardener, and the Llobregat rivers.

Land Tenure and the Status of Peasants

Land tenure (tenure dexplotació) was a new system of cultivating the earth (terra). The pagesos (peasants) were lieutenants. Serfs (Sef) could be attached to the land they were working and could not abandon it, while free peasants could leave if they chose.

The Peace and Truce of God Assemblies

The Peace and Truce of God were assemblies convened as a reaction against the violence of feudal ladies and lords. These assemblies guaranteed the protection of the clergy (elergar), their property, and religious places. They banned certain violent acts during specific days of the week and various festivities throughout the year (Lany).

Agricultural Innovations and Surplus

Surplus refers to the production excess once the quantities of supplies necessary for subsistence were stored.

Crop Rotation Systems

• Biennial Rotation: This consists of alternating cereals in autumn with fallow land.
• Triennial Rotation: This involves developing land for two years followed by a third year (trerçer) of fallow. In the first year, the field is sown with autumn grain; in the second year, a spring cereal is planted so the earth rests through autumn and winter (lhivern); in the third year, the land is left fallow.

Livestock and Monastic Life

Livestock played a vital role in the medieval economy:

• Sheep: Provided wool.
• Calf: Provided the strength to pull heavy plows.
• Pig: Provided meat.

The Rule of St. Benedict and Monasteries

What is the Rule of St. Benedict? It is a brief and required rule that organizes the daily life of the monastery. Abbeys and monasteries were typically built in the Romanesque style. In the tenth century, the Abbey of Cluny was placed under the direct jurisdiction of Rome and obtained the right for the monks to choose their own abbot.