The Feudal System :: essays research papers

"The Feudal System"      The feudal governing body was a political, military, and economic system based on the holding of land. The system was essential since the whole entire basis of rule from all the civilizations before the Middle Ages was lost. Early Europe was in desperate need of such a system since they were constantly existence raided by the Vikings and other outsiders.     Man was lonely during the Middle Ages. Life was very harsh and everyone worked except the king. The usual life expectancy was 35. nation lived in itsy-bitsy farming communities. Everyone lived in constant fear of being raided by foreign invaders such as the Vikings. When they were not worrying about being invaded they were scared of plague and other living conditions. Mans position in the world was unknown. Knowledge, wealth, and governing body had to be recreated. Cities were far and few between and much slight populated and developed like todays cit ies. The Middle Ages was a religious age. Man clung to God as creator. People painstakingly built churches. Religion was what was the most essential to people for a long time, and to be excommunicated was horrible.     As time progressed the feudal system was created. It was designed to divide the lands and protect from attack. The king first gave a fief or a piece of land to a royal vassal. As proof for this exchange in land a vassal would swear to the entitle to be his man all the days of his life and protect him against "all men who may live or die." Next came investiture. Investiture was a emblematical gesture when a King or a lord presented a royal vassal or a vassal a stick, a small rod, or a clod of earth to show that he has given him a fief. Now this royal vassal was in charge of a ample piece of land. In order to defend it he would then divide his land into smaller pieces. He would take these smaller pieces and give them to warriors or who a gree to be his own vassals. Thus, the royal vassal became a lord to other vassals. The vassals now under this lord would now divide their lands and grant fiefs to warriors of their own. Last in the dividing of land was the knight whose parcel of land was too small to be divided.     Everyone in the feudal system worked except the king.