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Feudalism Explained

⏱️ 1-2 hours 📊 Beginner 📚 Learning

About This Idea

Understand how land, loyalty, and power shaped medieval societies. After Rome fell, Europe developed feudalism - a system where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty. This social structure defined medieval life and relationships.

#medieval#feudalism#society#europe

How to Get Started

FOUNDATION (30 minutes)
  1. When: Medieval Europe, roughly 9th-15th centuries
  2. Why it emerged: After Roman Empire fell, no strong central government, constant warfare, need for protection
  3. Basic concept: Land (fief) in exchange for military service and loyalty
  4. Decentralized: Many local lords, not one strong king
THE FEUDAL HIERARCHY (1 hour)
  1. King: Top of pyramid, owned all land theoretically, granted land to nobles
  2. Nobles (lords): Held large estates (fiefs) from king, owed military service, granted land to vassals
  3. Knights (vassals): Warriors who held land from nobles, owed military service (40 days per year typical)
  4. Peasants/Serfs: Worked the land, tied to estate (couldn't leave), owed labor and crops to lord
  5. Clergy: Church owned land too, bishops were often as powerful as nobles
  6. Manor: Basic economic unit - lord's estate with village, farmland, peasants
  7. Key relationships: Based on oaths of loyalty (homage), mutual obligations
  8. Lord's duties: Provide land and protection to vassals
  9. Vassal's duties: Provide military service and loyalty to lord
  10. Serf's life: Farmed lord's land, gave portion of crops, couldn't leave, limited freedom
FAIRNESS DISCUSSION
  1. Was feudalism fair? Protected people but limited freedom
  2. Why did people accept it? Security in dangerous times
  3. How did it end? Growth of trade, cities, strong kings, Black Death
  4. Discuss: What keeps social systems stable even when unequal?

What You'll Need

Recommended Resources

🛠️ Tools & Apps

  • World History Encyclopedia 🔗
    Medieval history resources

📚 Tutorials & Learning

  • Crash Course: Medieval Europe 🔗
    Overview
  • r/AskHistorians 🔗
    Expert answers

👥 Communities

  • r/MedievalHistory 🔗
    Medieval discussion
  • r/AskHistorians 🔗
    Expert answers

Progress Milestones

Track your progress with these key achievements:

1
30 minutes
Understand why feudalism emerged
2
1 hour
Learn feudal hierarchy and relationships
3
2 hours
Analyze fairness and stability of system

Common Challenges & Solutions

Every beginner faces obstacles. Here's how to overcome them:

⚠️ Feudal relationships seem complicated
Solution: Think of it simply: Land for loyalty. Lord gives land, vassal provides military service. Everyone has someone above (owes loyalty) and below (owes protection). It's a chain of mutual obligations.

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