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Western European Feudal System Essay

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Over the course of time, many civilizations have had many issues with their government. One way of governing has overpowered the rest, the hierarchy. In 500 A.D, a government like this came to power.The the feudal system is a hierarchy system that maintained order in medieval Europe. In the dark ages, the residents of Western Europe slowly paced through the dark streets of their town. There was nothing but what seemed a gloomy spell has been fallen over these people. The only thing keeping the Francs in line, the feudal system, In the feudal system, the inhabitants of this time were divided into classes. Peasants and, Knights and lords.

At the bottom of the totem pole, lies the peasants and serfs. They are forced into doing the agricultural labor (wikipedia). Peasants are considered “A member of …show more content…
The king could not control all of the land by himself, so he divided it up among the Barons. In return, “the Barons pledged their loyalty and soldiers to the king”(ducksters). When a king died, his firstborn son would inherit the throne. When one family stayed in power for a long time, this was called a dynasty (western serve public media). The Bishop was the top church leader in the kingdom and managed an area called a diocese. The Catholic Church was very powerful in most parts of Medieval Europe and this made the Bishop powerful as well. Not only that, but “the church received a tithe of 10 percent from all the people, This made some Bishops very rich” (Goetz). Barons ruled large areas of land called fiefs. They reported directly to the king and were very powerful. They divided up their land among Lords who ran individual manors. Their job was to maintain an army that was at the king's service. If they did not have an army, sometimes they would pay the king a tax instead. This tax was called shield money. resting upon a cozy throne at the top of the feudal system were the nobles who live a very easy

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