Feudalism

In FEUDALISM, Joseph Strayer defines the underpinnings of the institution of feudalism and then, with the use of primary documents, elaborates on it's development and growth. He states that the basic characteristics of feudalism in Western Europe are a 1) fragmentation of political authority, 2) public power in private hands, 3) and a military system in which an essential part of the armed forces is secured through private contracts. Feudalism is a method of government and a way of securing the forces necessary to preserve that method of government. To Strayer, it was the political-military structure which made the society and age feudal, thus the attempts to use social and economic factors to define feudalism fall short in that such a template can be applied not just in the MA, but in many disparate times and places, which would not be of much use in historical analysis.Strayer starts by detailing how armed retainers evolved to vassals and the origin of fiefs and subsequently feudal principalities. He details how the counties in France began to crumble as effective governmental entities and how the tiny castellany became the only working unit of government. He then details how the stronger principalities, such as Normandy, Anjou and Flanders maintained unity and developed into strong feudal states. He states how the economic and intellectual revival of the 12th century assisted in arresting the political fragmentation, but primarily credits the development of feudal institutions and customs into a system. By this, he means the fact that a governmental hierarchy among the politically powerful was developed and general rules defining the relationships between the members of the political class were made. The most important rule was the Theory of Delegated Powers, the theory that all political power was delegated from a higher to a lower lord. God to king, king to count, count to baron, baron to knight. Any subordinate could be punished by immediate superior if he did wrong. There were gaps in the system, but the theory justified existing powers and opened the door for new ones. Strayer also details how the emphasis on personal service from vassal to lord was de-emphasized in favor of actual money, scutage and aid, which eventually led to taxation. Then an examination of the rising social and political influence of the knight class is examined as well as how the developing bureaucracy took away much of the administrative power of the lesser lords. He concludes with the aftermath of feudalism and the development of the feudal courts into parliamentary bodies. This is all in part 1. Part 2 contains over 50 primary source documents, almost all translated by Strayer himself, which help the reader to understand the context of the times.

Strayer's book is a response to Marc Bloch's Feudal Society. Strayer argues for a narrow definition of feudalism; a definition that can be practicle. His writing style is wonderful and lucid. Almost 200 pages of the book is primary source material. This book is definitely worth tracking down if you are serious about medieval studies.