They were obligated to defend their fief and not claim it unless they had a legitimate reason. The tenant or vassal was expected to protect the castle or estate and provide military service, which was used instead of taxes. However, they were also expected to work on their lord’s land at certain times of the year (known as corvée). The peasants were given a small farm where they could grow their crops and raise their animals this was known as a fief.

The nobles and the Church, the two mainstays of feudalism, had the privilege to live in the castle and its grounds. 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. Feudalism lasted until the decline of feudalism, i.e., the late 14th Century. The system of government was based on military service and a loosely-knit network of relationships between aristocrats, vassals, lords, and kings. About Feudalismįeudalism was a system of government and society in Europe that developed during the High Middle Ages. The king’s warriors or knights would travel on horseback with their followers, aided by peasant infantry. Feudalism developed when society had no strong central government and relied on local leaders at various levels to enforce peace between regions.

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

Feudalism in the middle ages