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'''Feudalism''' is a form of [[political]] and [[social]] [[organization]] typical of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe Western Europe] from the dissolution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne Charlemagne]'s [[empire]] to the rise of the absolute http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchies]. The term feudalism is derived from the [[Latin]] feodum, for "fief," and ultimately from a Germanic [[word]] meaning "cow," generalized to denote valuable movable [[property]]. Although [[analogous]] [[social]] systems have appeared in other [[civilizations]], the feudalism of Europe in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] remains the common model of feudal [[society]].

'''Feudalism''' is a form of [[political]] and [[social]] [[organization]] typical of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe Western Europe] from the dissolution of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne Charlemagne]'s [[empire]] to the rise of the absolute [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchies]. The term feudalism is derived from the [[Latin]] feodum, for "fief," and ultimately from a Germanic [[word]] meaning "cow," generalized to denote valuable movable [[property]]. Although [[analogous]] [[social]] systems have appeared in other [[civilizations]], the feudalism of Europe in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] remains the common model of feudal [[society]].

==Characteristics of European Feudalism==

==Characteristics of European Feudalism==

The [[evolution]] of highly [[diverse]] forms, [[customs]], and [[institutions]] makes it almost impossible to accurately depict feudalism as a [[whole]], but certain components of the [[system]] may be regarded as characteristic: strict division into social [[classes]], i.e., [[nobility]], [[clergy]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasantry peasantry], and, in the later Middle Ages, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess burgesses]; [[private]] [[jurisdiction]] based on local [[custom]]; and the landholding system dependent upon the fief or fee. Feudalism was based on contracts made among nobles, and although it was intricately [[connected]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial] system, it must be considered as distinct from it. Although some men held their land in alod, without [[obligation]] to any [[person]], they were exceptions to the rule in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages].

The [[evolution]] of highly [[diverse]] forms, [[customs]], and [[institutions]] makes it almost impossible to accurately depict feudalism as a [[whole]], but certain components of the [[system]] may be regarded as characteristic: strict division into social [[classes]], i.e., [[nobility]], [[clergy]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasantry peasantry], and, in the later Middle Ages, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess burgesses]; [[private]] [[jurisdiction]] based on local [[custom]]; and the landholding system dependent upon the fief or fee. Feudalism was based on contracts made among nobles, and although it was intricately [[connected]] with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial] system, it must be considered as distinct from it. Although some men held their land in alod, without [[obligation]] to any [[person]], they were exceptions to the rule in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages].

In an [[ideal]] feudal [[society]] (a legal [[fiction]], most nearly realized in the Crusaders' Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem), the ownership of all [[land]] was vested in the [[king]]. Beneath him was a [[hierarchy]] of nobles, the most important nobles holding land directly from the king, and the lesser from them, down to the seigneur who held a single manor. The [[political]] [[economy]] of the system was local and [[agricultural]], and at its base was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial system]. Under the manorial system the peasants, laborers, or serfs, held the [[land]] they worked from the seigneur, who granted them use of the land and his [[protection]] in return for [[personal]] [[services]] (especially on the demesne, the land he retained for his own use) and for dues (especially payment in kind).

In an [[ideal]] feudal [[society]] (a legal [[fiction]], most nearly realized in the Crusaders' Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem), the ownership of all [[land]] was vested in the [[king]]. Beneath him was a [[hierarchy]] of nobles, the most important nobles holding land directly from the king, and the lesser from them, down to the seigneur who held a single manor. The [[political]] [[economy]] of the system was local and [[agricultural]], and at its base was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial system]. Under the manorial system the peasants, laborers, or serfs, held the [[land]] they worked from the seigneur, who granted them use of the land and his [[protection]] in return for [[personal]] [[services]] (especially on the demesne, the land he retained for his own use) and for dues (especially payment in kind).

==The Fief==

==The Fief==

The feudal [[method]] of holding land was by ''fief''; the grantor of the fief was the ''suzerain'', or overlord, and the recipient was the ''vassal''. The fief was [[formally]] acquired following the [[ceremony]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage homage], in which the vassal, kneeling before the overlord, put his hands in those of the lord and declared himself his man, and the overlord bound himself by kissing the vassal and raising him to his feet. The vassal then swore an [[oath]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fealty fealty], vowing to be [[faithful]] to the overlord and to [[perform]] the [[acts]] and services due him. This [[formal]] [[procedure]] served to cement the [[personal]] [[relationship]] between lord and vassal; after the [[ceremony]] the lord invested the vassal with the ''fief'', usually by giving him some [[symbol]] of the transferred [[land]]. [[Honors]] or [[rights]], as well as [[land]], could be granted as fiefs. Gradually the system of subinfeudation evolved, by which the vassal might in his turn become an overlord, granting part of his fief to one who then became vassal to him. Thus very [[complex]] [[relationships]], based on fiefs, [[developed]] among the nobles, and the [[personal]] ties between overlords and vassals were weakened. Originally the fief had to be renewed on the [[death]] of either party. With the [[advent]] of [[hereditary]] [[succession]] and primogeniture, renewal of the fief by the heir of the deceased became [[customary]], and little by little the fief became [[hereditary]].

The feudal [[method]] of holding land was by ''fief''; the grantor of the fief was the ''suzerain'', or overlord, and the recipient was the ''vassal''. The fief was [[formally]] acquired following the [[ceremony]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage homage], in which the vassal, kneeling before the overlord, put his hands in those of the lord and declared himself his man, and the overlord bound himself by kissing the vassal and raising him to his feet. The vassal then swore an [[oath]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fealty fealty], vowing to be [[faithful]] to the overlord and to [[perform]] the [[acts]] and services due him. This [[formal]] [[procedure]] served to cement the [[personal]] [[relationship]] between lord and vassal; after the [[ceremony]] the lord invested the vassal with the ''fief'', usually by giving him some [[symbol]] of the transferred [[land]]. [[Honors]] or [[rights]], as well as [[land]], could be granted as fiefs. Gradually the system of subinfeudation evolved, by which the vassal might in his turn become an overlord, granting part of his fief to one who then became vassal to him. Thus very [[complex]] [[relationships]], based on fiefs, [[developed]] among the nobles, and the [[personal]] ties between overlords and vassals were weakened. Originally the fief had to be renewed on the [[death]] of either party. With the [[advent]] of [[hereditary]] [[succession]] and primogeniture, renewal of the fief by the heir of the deceased became [[customary]], and little by little the fief became [[hereditary]].

==Origins of Feudalism in Europe==

==Origins of Feudalism in Europe==

The feudal system first [[appears]] in definite form in the Frankish lands in the 9th and 10th cent. A long dispute between [[scholars]] as to whether its [[institution]]al basis was [[Roman]] or Germanic remains somewhat inconclusive; it can safely be said that feudalism emerged from the condition of [[society]] arising from the disintegration of [[Roman]] [[institutions]] and the further disruption of Germanic inroads and settlements. Of course, the rise of feudalism in areas formerly [[dominated]] by Roman institutions meant the breakdown of central [[government]]; but in regions untouched by Roman [[customs]] the feudal system was a further step toward [[organization]] and centralization.

The feudal system first [[appears]] in definite form in the Frankish lands in the 9th and 10th cent. A long dispute between [[scholars]] as to whether its [[institution]]al basis was [[Roman]] or Germanic remains somewhat inconclusive; it can safely be said that feudalism emerged from the condition of [[society]] arising from the disintegration of [[Roman]] [[institutions]] and the further disruption of Germanic inroads and settlements. Of course, the rise of feudalism in areas formerly [[dominated]] by Roman institutions meant the breakdown of central [[government]]; but in regions untouched by Roman [[customs]] the feudal system was a further step toward [[organization]] and centralization.

The [[system]] used and altered [[institutions]] then in [[existence]]. Important in an [[economic]] sense was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_villa Roman villa], with the peculiar form of rental, the precarium, a temporary grant of [[land]] that the grantor could revoke at any time. Increasingly, the poor landholder transferred his land to a protector and received it back as a precarium, thus giving rise to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial system]. It was also possible for the manorial system to [[develop]] from the Germanic village, as in England.

The [[system]] used and altered [[institutions]] then in [[existence]]. Important in an [[economic]] sense was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_villa Roman villa], with the peculiar form of rental, the precarium, a temporary grant of [[land]] that the grantor could revoke at any time. Increasingly, the poor landholder transferred his land to a protector and received it back as a precarium, thus giving rise to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial system]. It was also possible for the manorial system to [[develop]] from the Germanic village, as in England.

The [[development]] of fiefs was also [[influenced]] by the [[Roman]] [[institution]] of patricinium and the German institution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundium mundium], by which the powerful [[surrounded]] themselves with men who rendered them [[service]], especially [[military]] service, in exchange for [[protection]]. More and more, this [[service]]-and-[[protection]] [[contract]] came to involve the granting of a beneficium, the use of [[land]], which tended to become [[hereditary]]. Local royal officers and great landholders increased their [[power]] and forced the [[king]] to grant them [[rights]] of [[private]] [[justice]] and immunity from royal [[interference]]. By these [[processes]] feudalism became fixed in Frankish lands by the end of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Century 10th century.

The [[development]] of fiefs was also [[influenced]] by the [[Roman]] [[institution]] of patricinium and the German institution of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundium mundium], by which the powerful [[surrounded]] themselves with men who rendered them [[service]], especially [[military]] service, in exchange for [[protection]]. More and more, this [[service]]-and-[[protection]] [[contract]] came to involve the granting of a beneficium, the use of [[land]], which tended to become [[hereditary]]. Local royal officers and great landholders increased their [[power]] and forced the [[king]] to grant them [[rights]] of [[private]] [[justice]] and immunity from royal [[interference]]. By these [[processes]] feudalism became fixed in Frankish lands by the end of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Century 10th century.

==Source==

==Source==