Feudalism

Feudalism

(a) State

Despite the hold of powerful religions such as Christianity and Islam, the economic life of people was governed by feudal relations.

In the prevailing anarchy and violence, the mighty living in strong castles seized whatever they could and the poor peasants and labourers suffered. The latter were not organized to defend their interests. There was no strong central government either to protect them. Out of this chaos and disorder evolved the feudal system.

The king, supposed to represent God on earth, was at the head of the feudal regime. Immediately after him were the great nobles, known as dukes, counts, earls. The relationship was one of a vassal. The nobles in turn had vassals of their own, dividing and distributing their fief to lesser nobles called viscounts or barons. Last in this order were the knights, whose fiefs could not be divided. At the bottom were the villeins or serfs.

In the feudal system which centred around vassalage, there was no idea of equality or freedom. There were only rights and obligations. The Bishops, Abbots and Cardinals and the Church came under this socio-political structure. The nobility and the clergy did not do any physical work. So the burden of producing the food and other necessities of life fell on the peasants and artisans.

There was also a class of traders. Traders and artisans were not brought under the feudal system. The merchants and artisans formed guilds and groups. In course of time they became wealthy enough to defy even the nobles and the kings. This development led to the end of feudal system.

(b) Church

During the later Middle Ages, Christianity underwent many significant developments. The most important were in matters of doctrine and religious practices. New elements were included in Christian theology. They were the theory of priesthood and the theory of sacraments. These two elements increased the power of the clergy. These two elements also helped the Church to extend its authority over all of its lay members. Excommunication and Interdict were the two instruments used against those who defied the Church.

Excommunication meant a person of all the privileges of a Christian. He was denied the right to sacraments in Church. His or her body could not   be buried in the consecrated ground. Interdict was to deny benefits of religion to a ruler’s subject, intended to kindle their resentment against him.

The growth of the Church in the later Middle Ages was accompanied by the rise of ambitious political leaders. The conflict between secular and spiritual authorities became inevitable. In the conflict between German Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII, Pope by means of Interdict succeeded in making the emperor to abdicate the throne. By means of interdict Pope Innocent III forced King John to recognize England and Ireland as fiefs of the papacy. Many pious Christians now began to resent Pope’s intrusion into state affairs.