Barbara D. answered • 07/02/24
Experienced AP World teacher to help you get a 5 on the exam
Feudalism became the government system of Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE. During the Roman empire, there was a lot of government interference in all aspects of life. The emperor was at the top, but he had lots of "feet on the ground" who would ensure the laws of the empire were respected in every tiny corner of the empire. When this overarching structure suddenly disappeared, people had to rely on other people to give them the protection they previously received from the government. This is how feudalism developed. It is basically a system of loyalties and reciprocal obligations. Lords granted land (aka fiefs), to vassals in exchange for their loyalty, military support, and other services. This system of obligations and loyalties ran throughout the feudal hierarchy, from the king at the top to the peasants at the bottom. The king would recognize the power of the nobles and grant them land, and in exchange they would offer him counsel, and military support. After the fall of the overarching power of the government that had been in place during the Roman Empire, the feudal system was a way for medieval Europe to create stability AND to protect property. This lack of centralized authority also had its limitations, as it caused numerous conflicts between the different lords and it limited social mobility. It was very difficult to move up on the social ladder.
On top of being a governmental system, feudalism was also a social system as it structured society around relationships based on land ownership, with obligations flowing between lords and vassals and lords and kings. As a social system, feudalism can be seen as a hierarchical society with three main classes: the nobility, the clergy, and the peasantry. The nobility owned the land and held the most power, while the peasantry worked the land and had few rights.
Manorialism is different from feudalism as this was more an economic system without the military aspect that was seen in feudalism. Manorialism focused on land production and management, and the relationship between manor lords and the peasants who farmed their land. The lord owned all the land, but allowed peasants to farm parts of it in exchange for supporting themselves. Manors were usually self-sufficient and had things like schools, mills, etc. so it provided all the needs of the people living on the manor. As the manorial system was a closed loop system and people were not in contact with people from outside the manor, it had a negative impact on cultural exchange and trade.
Comparing the feudal system with modern American social stratification is complex. You could say that similar to feudal times, modern American society has an emphasis on personal success which often overshadows the sense of community and in both eras, the pursuit of individual gain often leads to the exploitation of others. However, there are also many differences. Social mobility - or the lack thereof during feudal times compared to now - would be the biggest difference as well as the status of landownership. Although land ownership is not as central to social standing in modern America, though it can still be a factor in wealth and status.
