Medieval Life and Romanesque Architecture (10th–13th Centuries)

Feudalism in Western Europe (10th–13th Centuries)

Feudalism was a political, social, and economic system imposed in Western Europe between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. It emphasized self-sufficiency: the fiefs produced food primarily for the consumption of their inhabitants.

Feudal Hierarchy and Lords

The feudal lords included monarchs (who could have vassals), the nobles, and the abbots.

The Structure of the Manor

The manor consisted of a castle, the surrounding land extension, and a series of buildings (peasant houses, church, mill, oven, forge, etc.). The feudal lord's lands also included pastures, forests, and arable fields.

Division of Land

• The Reserve: Lands exploited directly by the lord.
• The Manses (or Tenements): Parcels of land which the lord gave to free peasants, where their homes were located.

Social Structure: Privileged and Unprivileged

Society was divided into two main groups:

1. The Privileged

This group included the Nobility and the High Clergy. They did not pay taxes and were judged by special laws. Nobles who possessed fiefs could collect taxes and administer justice among their peasants.

2. The Unprivileged

This group constituted the rest of society: the lower clergy, free peasants, serfs, artisans, small soldiers, and merchants. None of them possessed privileges.

The Clergy

The clergy was further divided:

• Secular Clergy: Included priests who belonged to no religious order and were dependent on the bishops.
• Regular Clergy: Composed of various religious orders. They lived in monasteries headed by a superior (abbot) and dedicated themselves to work and prayer.

High Clergy vs. Low Clergy

• High Clergy: Consisted of the main dignitaries of the church, such as bishops and abbots. These positions were held by members of the nobility.
• Low Clergy: Consisted of priests, friars, and monks, who came from the peasantry. Many of whom were poor and had little training.

Characteristics of Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque was the dominant art style in Christian Europe from the eleventh century until the thirteenth.

Key Architectural Features

• Windows are typically small.
• The naves are separated by pillars and columns supporting arches.
• The central nave is covered with a barrel vault, and the side naves often use a groin vault.
• Buttresses reinforce the thick walls.
• Apses are semi-circular and occasionally feature smaller radiating chapels around them.
• Many Romanesque cathedrals utilize a Latin cross plan, typically featuring three naves.