FEUDALISM IN EUROPE

1.1 Chronology and features of feudalism

Feudalism was the political, economic and social system which characterised Western Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries. The system acquired its characteristic features during the Early Middle Ages; in other words, between the 9th and 11th centuries.

The most prominent features were the loss of political power of the kings, a primarily agrarian economy, a social organisation based on relationships of dependence between people and the enormous influence of the Christian religion.

Moreover, in its beginnings the feudal period is differentiated by its cultural and artistic impoverishment, until a common artistic style eventually emerged throughout Europe: Romanesque.

1.2 Origin and expansion of feudalism

The origin of feudalism dates back to the 9th century, as a consequence of the instability and the moments of crisis and poverty that followed the death of Emperor Charlemagne in 814.

The reasons for this instability were the struggles between the Emperor’s successors, the Muslim attacks on the Christian Mediterranean coasts, especially in Italy and Sicily, and a second wave of

Skills progress

Working with maps

1 Which kingdoms existed in the 9th century in present-day Spain, France, Germany and Italy? Where were the Muslim territories located?

2 Look at the map of invasions in the 9th and 10th centuries and answer: a) Which invaders threatened the security of Europe? b) Which territories did each of them attack and how are these attacks represented on the map?

Establishing links

3 What relationship exists between feudalism and the instability of the time?

4 Who formed part of the Curia Regis and what was its function?

Faced with this situation, the kings, unable to protect their entire territory, sought protection from powerful local nobles who swore their loyalty and military allegiance in exchange for concessions.

Meanwhile, the peasants sought the protection of the nobles, in exchange for surrendering their land or their work.

All this led to the concentration of large expanses of land in the hands of the nobles, bishops and abbots, to whom a large body of men and women without property were subordinate.

Feudalism spread throughout the European territories located between the Atlantic coast and the Russian plains, and between the northern coasts of the continent and the Mediterranean Sea.

1.3 Feudal monarchy

Feudal Europe was fragmented into numerous kingdoms and independent states, governed by kings who considered that their power came from God.

Therefore, their authority was, in theory, very broad: they led the army, legislated and judged. But in practice the king was merely the ‘first among equals,’ because the great nobles and clergy acted with a high degree of independence.

The kings governed with the help of the Curia Regis, an assembly of nobles and clergy who advised them on major issues.

In terms of administration, the kingdoms were divided into counties ruled by counts, and duchies governed by dukes.

The second invasions

The Vikings, whom their contemporaries called Normans, came from Scandinavia. From the mid-7th century until approximately 1 100, they sacked the European coasts in search of loot aboard their dragon ships with room for 50 people. Eventually, they settled down in a number of European territories. Other invaders were the Bulgarians and the Magyars, who came from western Asia and settled in Hungary. From there they would attack the territories of Western Europe.

When the kings had to make decisions on major issues, tthe members of the Curia Regis, an assembly made up of nobles, bishops and abbots, advised them.

Using research strategies

5 Security, both public and private, is a wide professional field that includes various jobs (such as monitoring, citizen security, international security, cyber security, etc.). There is a large number of professionals that ensure our security. If you had to be an expert in the security field, where would you like to work? Research this profession and plan how you would get the position.