At the bottom of the pyramid, there were serfs, peasants and villeins. The feudal system of the Middle Ages was like a pyramid of power with specific hierarchy. The feudal levy had a limited period of service and this was designed to ensure that the agricultural land may not remain neglected for longer periods. In order to be able to do so, the feudal lords used to ask for taxes from the serfs and peasants of their manors and they also took rent from the peasants for using the land for agricultural purposes. The lords, barons and other nobles of medieval period were expected to provide trained soldiers for the king and they were also expected to provide food and clothe for the soldiers. In certain conditions, this limit could be raised to 90 days. The lords of the fief were required to take an Oath of allegiance for the King and they were expected raise trained troops to help the king at the time of need and it was termed as feudal levy.Īccording to the provision of feudal levy, men were required to fight for a limited period of 40 days. After his victory, he awarded all his supporters, who fought for him, with big portions of land which were known as manor or Fief. In England, William the Conqueror established the Mormon feudalistic system after defeating the English army. Historians often describe feudalism as the military and judicial customs of Middle Ages that were established during the 9th and 15th centuries.įeudalism in Middle Ages was a social, political, and religious structure which was based on the exchange of land for military services and or cash rent. The feudalistic set up of European Middle Ages was also strengthened by the emergence of Christian religious revolutions. In order to attain security after the fall of the Roman Empire, against Germanic barbarians, Islamic invaders, and pagan enemies, European kingdoms gradually accepted the customs of feudalism.
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