The transition from feudalism to capitalism took place in the 15th century in Europe. This moment marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age.
What was Feudalism?
Remember that feudalism was an economic, political, social and cultural model based on land tenure (fiefs) that prevailed in Western Europe from the 5th century onwards. Feudal society was characterized by social immobility.
At that time, the Catholic Church was a very powerful institution that ruled people's lives. With the passage of time, she lost her followers, mainly due to the new discoveries that were taking place in the field of science.
See also:Crisis of FeudalismWhat is Capitalism?
Capitalism is an economic system based on land and property ownership. It appears in the 15th century, with the crisis of feudalism, and continues to the present day.
Of course, the capitalism that emerges at that moment is very different from what we have today. To clarify, see below the three phases that capitalism passed:
- Commercial or Mercantile Capitalism (pre-capitalism) – from the 15th to the 18th century
- Industrial Capitalism or Industrialism – 18th and 19th centuries
- Financial or Monopolistic Capitalism – 20th and 21st century
Abstract
Several changes in the social, cultural, economic and political fields marked a new phase in Europe. They resulted in the crisis of the feudal system that was based on an agrarian and subsistence economy, giving rise to pre-capitalism or “commercial capitalism”.
This first phase of capitalism lasted from the 15th to the 18th century and was determined by the mercantile system, so it is also called "Mercantile Capitalism". He aimed at the accumulation of wealth and capital, and also, the commercialization of goods with a view to increasing profit.
Many factors contributed to this transition, for example, the emergence of a new social class, the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie contributed to the increase and acceleration of the mercantile economy through the emergence of money.
Thus, the barter that was previously practiced in the feudal system, was losing place to a new economic model based on commerce.
In this phase, the Renaissance, an artistic and cultural movement that began in Italy, was introducing a new vision of man's place in the world. He was linked to humanism, which in turn was inspired by anthropocentrism (man at the center of the world).
In addition, scientism, based on various discoveries and inventions, was essential for the Church to weaken its power, which in the feudal system was indisputable, and which gradually lost many faithful.
A significant example was the heliocentric system (Sun at the center of the universe), proposed by Copernicus, to the detriment of the geocentric system (Earth at the center of the Universe), disseminated by the Church.
In this phase, the growth of cities further strengthened commerce (commercial and urban renaissance), where free fairs became essential for the definitive end of the medieval feudal system.
The great navigations demonstrated this new attitude of the modern man, with the exploration of new lands in the American continent, resulting even more in the expansion of the commerce.
To better understand the feudal system, read :
- Feudal Society
- Feudal Economy
- Relations of Suzerainty and Allegiance in Feudalism
- Absolute State