Feudalism was the glue that held people in their designated area: designed by the Church, carried out by the people. The social status of one’s family was determined by birth, and land ownership. Being "wealthy" was determined by how much land someone owned, contrary to how much money one possessed. Because with land, one could grown food, and people would have to pay to settle and populate it. Ownership of land is what separated Kings from Peasants, and Peasants from Lords (Nardo 14-15). Since the land all owned by the king, land ownership from then on out was simply who governed it. That’s why, when we reach the lowly peasant, he appears to be poor, simply because the only control of land he had was within his own family. “Those who owned
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Among the the people called for military service, were many types of fighters (Nardo 28). The first group was better known for carrying a sword and charging into battle. Knights were an elite group who fought horseback, and formed the higher social rank. They enforced the vassals orders, and were granted a small estate of their own. They were paid well, and their horses were well bred and kept. The training, however was expensive and time-consuming, leaving the job only to the wealthy boys with plenty of time on their hands (Nardo 28). The second group was called foot soldiers, who had a lower social status then knights, some being as low as peasants. They worked on the King or vassal's estate. Because of their position, and lack of wealth, they were not well armed, and had little to no training. Their effectiveness was dependant on their commander (Nardo 28-29). They were mainly people who were found in the villages and towns, their job established only near the decline of the Middle Ages. The code and conducts that all of these fighters, specifically knights, were held to, is called chivalry (King 35). Whether high-classed or not, the military was formed by people of the kingdom, and was only as effective as their commander and …show more content…
In reality, however, most of the contracts were based off trust. Keeping the feudal system together, in theory, was verbal and written contracts. The feudal system was based on oaths and contracts between a lord and its vassals (Biel 9). With it, came trust. If you didn’t trust the person, they weren’t given the better jobs, or given more to govern over. "The earliest fiefs given to vassals by their lords were gifts such as armor, weapons, or horses. By the year 1000, the typical fief had become a parcel of land" (Biel 9). Among peasants, the illiterate ones of the feudal system, contracts didn’t exactly ensure one keeping his side of the deal. Along with the ownership of land, there was the matter and seriousness of honor. Oaths were regarded very highly, the basis for the different oaths we take today, such as marriage oaths, college graduations, and oaths of citizenship (Nardo 16). Since most people could not read or write, the contracts were not written down. The oath was performed in public, so that many people could be witnesses to the event (Nardo 17) An eyewitness was especially important when ninety percent of the people could neither read or write. The feudal system really wouldn’t have worked if oaths and honor weren’t held as highly as they were, ensuring that people did what they were required to, if not more, in their job
Among the the people called for military service, were many types of fighters (Nardo 28). The first group was better known for carrying a sword and charging into battle. Knights were an elite group who fought horseback, and formed the higher social rank. They enforced the vassals orders, and were granted a small estate of their own. They were paid well, and their horses were well bred and kept. The training, however was expensive and time-consuming, leaving the job only to the wealthy boys with plenty of time on their hands (Nardo 28). The second group was called foot soldiers, who had a lower social status then knights, some being as low as peasants. They worked on the King or vassal's estate. Because of their position, and lack of wealth, they were not well armed, and had little to no training. Their effectiveness was dependant on their commander (Nardo 28-29). They were mainly people who were found in the villages and towns, their job established only near the decline of the Middle Ages. The code and conducts that all of these fighters, specifically knights, were held to, is called chivalry (King 35). Whether high-classed or not, the military was formed by people of the kingdom, and was only as effective as their commander and …show more content…
In reality, however, most of the contracts were based off trust. Keeping the feudal system together, in theory, was verbal and written contracts. The feudal system was based on oaths and contracts between a lord and its vassals (Biel 9). With it, came trust. If you didn’t trust the person, they weren’t given the better jobs, or given more to govern over. "The earliest fiefs given to vassals by their lords were gifts such as armor, weapons, or horses. By the year 1000, the typical fief had become a parcel of land" (Biel 9). Among peasants, the illiterate ones of the feudal system, contracts didn’t exactly ensure one keeping his side of the deal. Along with the ownership of land, there was the matter and seriousness of honor. Oaths were regarded very highly, the basis for the different oaths we take today, such as marriage oaths, college graduations, and oaths of citizenship (Nardo 16). Since most people could not read or write, the contracts were not written down. The oath was performed in public, so that many people could be witnesses to the event (Nardo 17) An eyewitness was especially important when ninety percent of the people could neither read or write. The feudal system really wouldn’t have worked if oaths and honor weren’t held as highly as they were, ensuring that people did what they were required to, if not more, in their job