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Oct 9, 2024 · fief, in European feudal society, a vassal’s source of income, held from his lord in exchange for services. The fief constituted the central institution of feudal society.
A fief (/ f iː f /; Latin: feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal , who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of feudal allegiance, services or payments.
Definition. A fief is a parcel of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service, particularly military service, within the framework of feudalism. This arrangement created a hierarchical structure where the vassal gained control over the land and its resources, while the lord retained ultimate authority.
- Problems of Defining Feudalism
- What Were The Origins of Feudalism?
- Lords & Vassals
- Consequences & Effects of Feudalism
- Why Did Feudalism Decline?
Although the term 'feudalism' and 'feudal society' are commonly used in history texts, scholars have never agreed on precisely what those terms mean. The terms were applied to European medieval society from the 16th century onwards and subsequently to societies elsewhere, notably in the Zhou period of China (1046-256 BCE) and Edo period of Japan(16...
The word 'feudalism' derives from the medieval Latin terms feudalis, meaning fee, and feodum, meaning fief. The fee signified the land given (the fief) as a payment for regular military service. The system had its roots in the Roman manorial system (in which workers were compensated with protection while living on large estates) and in the 8th cent...
Starting from the top of society's pyramid, the monarch – a good example is William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087) who considered all the lands of Englandas his personal property – could give a parcel of land (of no fixed size) to a noble who, in return, would be that monarch's vassal, that is he would promise loyalty and service when required. Thus,...
The consequence of the feudal system was the creation of very localised groups of communities which owed loyalty to a specific local lord who exercised absolute authority in his domain. As fiefs were often hereditary, a permanent class divide was established between those who had land and those who rented it. The system was often weighted in favour...
Medieval feudalism was essentially based on the relationship of reciprocal aid between lord and vassal but as that system became more complex over time, so this relationship weakened. Lords came to own multiple estates and vassals could be tenants of various parcels of land so that loyalties became confused and even conflicting with people choosing...
- Mark Cartwright
Fief Definition: In Medieval feudalism a fief was a vassal's source of income, granted to him by his lord in exchange for his services. The fief usually consisted of land and the labor of peasants who were bound to cultivate it.
Mar 11, 2023 · Feudalism, the political and social system that emerged in medieval Europe, was a complex and multi-layered structure that governed every aspect of life. It was a hierarchical system of mutual obligations and loyalties that bound lords and vassals together in a web of interdependence.
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What was poison in the Middle Ages? There were many kinds of poison but no clear medical definitions. Toxicology on poison emerged around 1300. Until 1300, medical writing about poison dealt with cases, how to recognize poison and deal with it but not about poison itself. In the 13th century, a new interest in poison emerged due to increase in ...