Feudalism in Western Europe: System, Society, and Daily Life

What Was Feudalism?

Feudalism was the political, economic, and social system that existed in Western Europe between the 10th and 13th centuries.

How the Feudal System Worked

Feudalism was a system in which a free person became dependent on another, becoming their vassal.

The Lord-Vassal Commitment

The commitment between the vassal and the lord was sealed with an act of homage. In this act, the vassal swore fealty (loyalty) to his lord and promised to provide him with help and advice.

The Lord's Obligations and the Fief

In return, the lord swore to protect his vassal and provide him with a fief. A fief was normally land intended to provide the vassal with the resources needed to make a living.

Daily Life in the Fief

The fief was a rural estate composed of extensive areas of arable land, pasture, and forest. The fief economy was typically self-sufficient.

Fief Structure

• Demesne: Land exploited directly by the lord.
• Tenements: Plots of land that the lord granted to free peasants in exchange for obligations.

Feudal Economy

The economy was primarily based on the fief.

• Agriculture: This was the principal economic activity.
• Livestock: The main livestock activities included rearing pigs, sheep, and cows.
• Trade: Trade almost disappeared due to frequent wars. Commerce was mainly limited to local markets and fairs.

Feudal Society: Estates of the Realm

Feudal society was organized into estates of the realm. There were two main kinds of estates:

Privileged Estates

These estates held special rights and did not typically pay taxes.

• The Nobility: Included figures such as dukes, marquises, counts, and knights.
• The Clergy: Included figures such as bishops and monks.

Non-Privileged Estates

This group formed the majority of the population and bore the tax burden.

• Peasants: Most people belonged to this group. There were also craftsmen.
  • Free Peasants: Cultivated plots of land given to them by the lord, to whom they owed certain obligations.
  • Serfs: Peasants who were not free and were tied to the land they worked on. They belonged to the lord.