The feudal economy , inserted in the context of feudalism, was an agrarian and subsistence economy based on land ownership (fiefs).
Remember that feudalism was an economic, political, social and cultural organization. It lasted in Western Europe between the 5th and 15th centuries, during the period known as the Middle Ages.
What were the fiefs?
The fiefs, considered the economic basis of the feudal economy, represented large tracts of land located in rural areas, which were commanded by feudal lords.
In them it was possible to find the fortified castle, the villages, the land for cultivation, the pastures and the woods, etc. The manor was divided into basically three parts:
- Manso Siro :the best and largest lands of the manor that belonged to the feudal lord, enough to support his family. However, the lords did not work, this land being cultivated by the serfs or peasants.
- Manso Servile :land of the serfs, where they cultivated their products, producing what was necessary for survival. In return, they performed various duties and paid taxes to feudal lords.
- Common Tame :area common to all groups that included pastures, forests and woods. Here, the cultivated products were for everyone's use, being a place intended for cultivation, hunting and pasture for animals.
Feudal Economy Features:Summary
Based on an agrarian and self-sufficient economy, that is, they produced everything they needed, the feudal economy was dedicated to local consumption and not to commercial exchanges.
In this case, the exchange of goods (or barter) was carried out through products cultivated in the manors, since there was no monetary system (currency).
Agriculture was the main activity developed in feudalism, although handicrafts were remarkable. Handicrafts were used to produce tools and materials for domestic use.
It is worth remembering that the social system of that period was marked by a status society (divided into estates) that did not have social mobility, that is, a servant was born, a servant will die. Thus, four groups were part of the feudal structure:kings, clergy, nobles, serfs.
This last group (servants) were those who worked on the manorial lands (agriculture, livestock, castles, etc.) in exchange for housing, food and protection.
They grew the products, took care of the animals, served the lords in their castles, whether it was washing or cooking.
In addition to doing most of the work that ran the feudal economy, serfs paid various tributes (or taxes), the most important of which were:
- Corvea :represented the cultivation of manorial lands that had to be carried out by the serfs at least 2 times a week.
- Hoist :tax in which serfs were obliged to hand over half of their production to the feudal lord.
- Capitation :meant the tax paid by serfs to feudal lords, relative to the number of people, that is, per head.
- Banality :tax paid for the use of equipment and facilities, that is, the serf paid a fee to the feudal lord to use the mill, oven, etc.
Learn more about feudalism :
- Middle Ages
- Feudal Society
- Crisis of Feudalism
- Relationship of Suzerainty and Allegiance in Feudalism
- Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism
- Medieval Castles