Concept in Definition ABC

Prevalent political, social and economic system of the Middle Ages that was based on the Fiefdoms

The term Feudalism refers to the political, economic and social system that prevailed in the Middle Ages, approximately between the 9th and 15th centuries, and which has had as its fundamental basis its Constitution the so-called fiefdoms.

How did it work?

Feudalism consisted of properties of land cultivated especially by slaves, part of the production that these elaborated was delivered as a census or lease to the owner of the land, embodied by a noble lord, loyal to the King of turn.

The Feudal Lord in his land is at the same time judge, administrator and military man, inasmuch as, always in the last instance they must submit to the authority or designs of the monarch; and the peasants will deal exclusively with working the land in exchange for the protection offered by the feudal lord as such.

The encomienda is the theoretical pact that existed between the farmer and the feudal lord

and more or less it worked like this: the feudal lord welcomed in his territory to the peasants and they had the obligation to till the land in which they were housed. The main responsibilities of the feudal lord were ensure justice, maintenance of order and protection in case of being attacked. In this way, the peasant became a servant or slave and also had to pay the nobleman an income for the exploitation of the land that he carried out.

The estates that made up Feudalism

Likewise, in Feudalism there was a clear distinction of estates, among them, the privileged (ecclesiastics, knights), the high clergy (archbishop, bishop and abbots), the low clergy (priests and priests) and the royalty.

The other side of the coin was represented by the underprivileged, the bourgeoisie, artisans, servants and peasants, subdivided in turn into settlers and elders. This group, then, was responsible for all submission, having to work and deliver part of the fruits obtained to the feudal lord.

Towards the thirteenth century some issues began to develop such as advances in agricultural techniques, increased trade and a incredible advance on the part of the bourgeoisie, which, inevitably, would lead to an economic opening, the decentralization of justice and of the administration and of course the Feudal system would begin to fade in the face of the looming state of affairs.

A dark stage characterized by the absence of freedom

In the general consideration that is later made in history about the different processes and movements that went through it, feudalism, it is considered as a stage that did not bring progress in the material, in the political and in the scientific, even more, it is treated as one of the darkest times of the humanity. There was some or other technological advance but in terms of individual freedoms the advance was zero and it was the Church that institution that he commanded in matters of indoctrination of the community. Those who thought differently and dared to say so were harshly persecuted and punished.

Feudalism today

At present it is common to hear about feudalism to name those places, regions, provinces, municipalities, among others, that to date are politically managed with the same characteristics of a fiefdom of the Middle Ages, and even being under the greater veil of a democratic government regime. Of course, a total negative connotation is attributed to the name.

Unfortunately many practices of feudalism did not die despite the many centuries since it formally disappeared and then it is common for us to meet with some places, especially in underdeveloped countries and their poorer and relegated regions or provinces, still dealing with the vices of this system.

Of course, the feudal lord is not making the peasantry work piecemeal, however, there is the corresponding governor or highest authority, using the material resources and state administrative staff to distribute them to piacere and at their discretion among those who adhere to their management. In this way, the people end up being hostage to the current government, usually a government characterized by corruption and laziness, which does not take care of managing in favor of the poor and the most unprotected but uses them to win votes and therefore elections that perpetuate them in power and thus be able to continue in eternum with the business of the clear state this.

Topics in Feudalism