Western Civilization I / Unit 10 WC1 0906 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Fealty, Vassal, Fief: The Feudal Bargain
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The idea
A lord took pledges of fealty from free men, his vassals, and gave protection and fiefs, grants of land, for war service. Vassals took wealth from peasants for horse, armor and weapons and paid no tax.
In practice
The Church a huge, usually tax-exempt landowner, bishops as lords.
Where people slip
Feudalism arose from absent government and constant raiding: a response, not a design.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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