Decline of Feudalism

For centuries, feudalism had been the dominant form of the social organisation of much of Europe. But with the population growth and the economic development, the feudal system was eventually replaced by capitalism. The decline of feudalism was a change in the social, economic, and political structures that occurred due to various factors.

During feudalism, people were subservient to the nobility. Feudalism developed when society had no strong central government and relied on local leaders at various levels to enforce peace between regions. The king’s warriors or knights would travel on horseback with their followers, aided by peasant infantry.

About Feudalism

Feudalism was a system of government and society in Europe that developed during the High Middle Ages. The system of government was based on military service and a loosely-knit network of relationships between aristocrats, vassals, lords, and kings. Feudalism lasted until the decline of feudalism, i.e., the late 14th Century. Feudalism’s early form dates back to Roman times when the king or lord owned all land in a given area; vassals would fight for him in exchange for protection by his army.

Who Enjoyed the Privilege

The nobles and the Church, the two mainstays of feudalism, had the privilege to live in the castle and its grounds. The peasants were given a small farm where they could grow their crops and raise their animals; this was known as a fief. However, they were also expected to work on their lord’s land at certain times of the year (known as corvée).

Feudal Society

To gain status, you needed land. The tenant or vassal was expected to protect the castle or estate and provide military service, which was used instead of taxes.

The vassals were bound to their lords. They were obligated to defend their fief and not claim it unless they had a legitimate reason. Likewise, they could not share their land with another noble unless he or they had taken the land from a previous owner.

The lords needed knights to protect the kingdom, and if a nobleman was rich and powerful, he could have more than one knight in his service.

The kings/lords also needed help governing the land; they turned to the Church. The Church was responsible for people’s eternal souls and their worldly matters too.

Feudalism was a system that provided lots of benefits for the nobles. It allowed them to fight in tournaments, have knightly adventures, and get in trouble with other nobles as they pleased. Meanwhile, the peasants had to give up their time and crops for the good of their lords. They also had to fight in wars on behalf of their kings.

The Conflict between Nobles and Peasants

Peasants wanted freedom from feudalism, while nobles wanted to maintain the status quo. During the Medieval Times, the nobles had a lot of power and were considered superior to their peasants. So the peasants rebelled against them.

What led to the Decline of Feudalism?

The Catholic Church was a major factor in the decline of feudalism. The Church opposed the rich and powerful nobles; their wealth was a severe threat to their power and authority. The Church wanted to be more influential than the nobles, so they started to oppose them.

The “Magna Carta” was the first thing that caused the downfall of feudalism. King John signed the document while on a campaign against Phillip II in 1215, but it wasn’t until 1297 that it became valid in England.

Causes of Decline of Feudalism

The downfall of feudalism was caused by various factors, namely the rise of strong monarchies. It was largely due to the Magna Carta (1215), which limited royal power and protected personal freedoms in England.

Other causes of the decline of feudalism include the establishment of Parliament, which allowed nobles to start challenging kings, and the development of towns, which gave rise to a wealthy merchant class who could fund armies independent of feudal control.

The decline of feudalism occurred throughout the 14th Century. The peasant-dominated society turned into one where powerful nobles controlled the military and had more rights, but wars marked this period.

The growth of towns and cities made it harder for the lords to maintain control since they had less direct contact with their peasants.

What led to the Decline of Feudalism in Europe?

Feudalism in Europe declined due to the growth of polite culture, the rise of a centralised monarchy, the introduction of firearms, and the rise of nationalism and bureaucracy.

The Chivalrous Culture

A lot of respect was given to knights and noblemen. Their skills in the fighting were considered perfect, and they were treated with a lot of respect, which made it hard for peasants to gain any wealth or power on their own.

Conclusion

Feudalism is an automated economy, society, and government system in which peasants are subjects of their lords. They have to provide food, clothing, services, and labour in return for military protection and the right to cultivate their land. Feudalism removes the freedom of common people. It was a very inefficient way of government because it did not allow common people to work individually to improve their situation. They were not rewarded for their hard work. The only change seen in their situation is that they got a little more land to cultivate.