Stabilizing Medieval Europe, 700-1000

Stabilizing Medieval Europe

• New Economic order: – Feudalism– Manorialism

• The Role of the Catholic Church– Regulating Marriage– Regulating Sexuality– Blessing Secular Rulers

Medieval Manor

• Evolved from Latifundium and Need for Protection

Castle: Fortification

Manor House: Fortification + Wealth

Peasant House

Peasant House

Feudalism and Medieval Households

• The Three Categories of Society:– Those Who Work: Peasants or Serfs– Those Who Fight: Knights– Those Who Pray: Clergy & Religious

• Feudalism: An Economic System – a set of social relations based upon protection

through service

Characteristics of Feudalism

• Ancient slavery ends as a labor system

• An economic system which does not require cash exchange or extensive markets

• People bound together in terms of obligations and terms of service– loyalty, homage and fealty govern relationships

between lord and vassal, peasant and lord

Patterns...

• 25-50 peasant families support one knight

• 90% of the population are peasants

• Peasants owe 3 days/wk of service + fees to lord. Fees are required : to marry, to inherit

• Knights owe 40 days/year service to lord to fight and must supply armaments, horses, etc.

Patterns, cont.

• Farm output is about 10% of today’s midwestern farm.

• Peasants (serfs, not slaves) are bound to land but have rights to the land

• Manors are economic and military units, with fortifications for defense (a castle), may also be controlled by monastic order or church.

Catholic Church

• Regulates Sexuality through confession: see handout on the “penitentials.”

• Organizes marriage by enforcing rules of monogamy and exogamy