Jack Richardson Jr., age 16, of Eureka, Calif., for his question:
WHAT EXACTLY WAS FEUDALISM?
Feudalism was the political and military system of western Europe during the Middle Ages. Feudalism seemed to fulfill the basic need for government, justice and protection from attack during a period of time when there was very little security i n the world.
Feudalism was mainly a military and political system. It should not be confused with manorialism, which was primarily a system for making a living from the land. Manorialism was an economic relationship between the peasants and the lord who owned the land where they lived.
Actually, feudalism was an arrangement between feudal aristocrats, who were the owners of the land, and his vassals. Vassals were the people who were granted the use of the land i n return for homage, fealty and either military service or its equivalent.
Feudalism was a useful system for its time. It helped to create order out of the disorder that existed in Europe during the early Middle Ages. Under feudalism, capable rulers often were able to bring efficient government and peace to their people.
Feudalism started to appear during the A.D. 700s and by the 1000s and 1100s, it spread from northern Europe into England and southern Europe. The crusaders also introduced feudalism into Syria. During the 1400s, feudalism rapidly disappeared from Europe.
The world "feudal" comes from "feodum," the Latin term for "fief." The fief was an estate granted by a lord i n return political and military service.
Feudalism had two main roots. One was a relationship of honor that existed among the German war bands that roamed over much of Europe in the early Middle Ages. The band fought for glory, adventure and whatever valuables they could seize in war.
When the Germans settled in lands that had been part of the Roman Empire, they found the second main root of feudalism had already been established: the system where a lord would give a plot of land in exchange for his protection and work.
Only noblemen or aristocratic warriors could take part i n feudal practices. These practices centered on the fief. No man could receive a fief until he became a vassal of the lord. The ceremony by which he became a vassal was called homage.
The future vassal promised to fight for the lord and become his man. The lord promised to treat the vassal with honor. If either broke his promise, he was considered guilty of feudal perfidy, a serious crime.
After doing homage, the new vassal was invested with his fief, or given the rights to his land. This was done i n an investiture ceremony.
When a vassal died, his son could take over the fief. But the son had to be able to provide the military and other services required by the lord.
The eldest surviving son was granted the fief. This custom was called primogeniture. It ensured that the fief would not be broken up among many sons and that only one person would remain responsible for the services to the lord.