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Feudalism means different things to different people, and its origins depend on its meaning.
Narrowly defined, feudalism is a system in which a weak central government distributes its power to people who support it. Typically, a monarch gives land and responsibilities to great lords in exchange for military support, and the great lords distribute their power to lesser lords. The strength of such a system is that the problems that develop on a local level can be dealt with faster than they could be if the central government had to mobilize to deal with them.
The origins of this sort of feudalism are in France and the Holy Roman Empire of the 9th century, and they were contemporaneous with the beginnings of Viking raids. The system was used in England by the Normans, but rather quickly fell out of use because the political situation stabilized, the central government strengthened, and the system was no longer needed.
More broadly defined, the system of feudalism is more or less the same as the system of manorialism. Manorialism is a system in which landlords own manors, which are the homes of peasants who work the land. The peasants are not free to leave, but have a right to be on the land that cannot be alienated without just cause. They supply work, food, or rent to the lord, and the lord gives them a place to live, fields to farm, and protection. This system was based on the old Roman system of villas with coloni, who were farmers very like the serfs on manors. This system was based on Roman laws dating to the early 4th century.
Regardless of how the term feudalism is used, it relates to a situation in which powerful people provide land and protection to less powerful people who have duties in return. These systems are closely related, but not the same, and this produces confusion that is causing the term feudalism to be less used. It may fall out of use.
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FranFeudalism arose in Western Europe as a reaction to the invading tribal peoples of the North. The Lords of the feudal system were also the warrior class and in exchange for protection against the raiders they expected the allegiance of the lords. Serfs were the lower class people attached to the land of the feudal lord.
It was a way to make people of the time know where they stood as to rank. The Kings had power over the Lords, the Lords over the Knights and vassals, and those over the peasants. It was also a very efficient way at the time to keep the government in check, even though the present feudalistic nation have all failed to do so.
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What was the original purpose of feudalism in China?
Feudalism in China, like Feudalism all over the world, was meant to keep peasants oppressed and nobles powerful. It succeeded for centuries.
What is true of feudalism?
feudalism meant the enslavement of the agrarian workforce for the enrichment of the privileged. Each class had duties and rights.
How was Japanese feudalism the same from European feudalism?
Both were almost exactly the same. You must understand that Feudalism is really just a lord giving land to his nobles for military aid and loyalty. Both nations used the same system. Also both had small petty kingdoms that experienced constant warfare, as each noble ran his fief, or land, as a small nation. Also, Feudalism was also present in several other countries, including China. Today, some countries still use feudalism.
Where does the word feudalism come from?
The word feudalism comes from the Latin word feodum or fuedum. In the feudalism system, land lords made a fair exchange with the peasants. The lords offered peasants food, a fortification,and protection, as they worked for them.
Why is feudalism important?
Feudalism was the social structure prevalent in Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance. It provided security in the absence of sovereign nations.
