The medieval evidence reinterpreted historische zeitschrift 264 1, 174179. The medieval evidence reinterpreted oxford, univers. Local government, power, lordship, and resources kate l. The concept of feudalism is as understood in europe. Offering a fundamental challenge to orthodox conceptions of feudalism, susan reynolds argues that the concepts of fiefs and vassalage that have been central to. The medieval evidence reinterpreted by susan reynolds pp. Offering a fundamental challenge to orthodox conceptions of feudalism, susan reynolds argues that the concepts of fiefs and vassalage that have been central to the understanding of medieval society for hundreds of years are in fact based on a misunderstanding of the primary sources.
Medieval serfs, or villeins, were expected to work for approximately 3 days each week on the land designated to the vassals. The medieval evidence reinterpreted by susan reynolds. The libri first came into french use and from there european wide use in the 16th century when a now professional judiciary used it to further the systemizing and centralizing goals of the monarchy. Susan reynolds argues that the concepts of the fief and of vassalage, as understood by historians of medieval europe, were constructed by postmedieval scholars from the works of medieval academic lawyers and tha they provide a bad guide to the realities of. The tale of melibee the open access companion to the. Susan reynolds argues that the concepts of the fief and of vassalage, as understood by historians of medieval europe, were constructed by postmedieval scholars from the works of medieval academic lawyers. Some vassals did not have fiefs and lived at their lords court as his household knights. This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. Fiefs and vassals has changed our view of the medieval world. Feudalism is the name given to the dominant set of legal and economic customs which defined european life largely from the 9th to 14th centuries. Feudalism simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Fiefs and vassals the medieval evidence reinterpreted susan reynolds. Then, you can take a short quiz to assess your knowledge. The medieval evidence reinterpreted by reynolds, susan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Frankish kings, starting with charlemagnes grandfather, charles martel, had always rewarded military service with land. Susan reynolds argues that the concepts of the fief and of vassalage, as understood by historians of medieval europe, were constructed by post medieval scholars from the works of medieval academic lawyers. Medieval vassals and the feudal system the feudal system was a pyramid of power, which any ambitious man could climb. The development of the social and political structures out of which emerged the modern european state was a long protracted process, the early stages of which are sparsely documented to say the least. Fiefs and vassals by susan reynolds overdrive rakuten. An earlier version of this article was presented to the colloquium for scottish medieval and renaissance studies, pitlochry, january 2003. This wideranging text focuses on the collective values and activities of lay society over several centuries, from trade guilds and manor courts to the development of parliaments and the rule of feudal monarchs. The medieval evidence reinterpreted susan reynolds download bok. The knights served under the vassals in the feudalism pyramid. Susan reynolds born 1929 is a british medieval historian whose book fiefs and vassals.
However, the king would give some of the land to the lords or nobles who fought for him, called vassals. Serfs were people who worked the land to produce crops. It consisted of heritable property or rights granted by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty or in fee in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the personal ceremonies of homage and fealty. Susan reynolds argues that the concepts of the fief and of vassalage, as understood by historians of medieval europe, were constructed by post medieval scholars from the works of medieval academic lawyers and tha they provide a bad guide to the realities of. Vassals who fought well for their king or lord might be rewarded with even more land. The knights of the past are just like the soldiers of today. Fiefs and vassals is a book that will change our view of the medieval world. Rethinking kinship and feudalism in early medieval europe.
It offers a fundamental challenge to orthodox conceptions of feudalism. Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour although derived from the latin word feodum or feudum fief, 1 then in use, the term feudalism and the system it. Mobileereaders download the bookshelf mobile app at or from the itunes or android store to access your ebooks from your mobile device or ereader. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Vassal, in feudal society, one invested with a fief in return for services to an overlord. However, this picture of feudal service and the legalistic hierarchy of landholding rights associated with it does not fit the medieval evidence.
The fees were often lands or revenueproducing real property held in feudal land tenure. Fiefs and vassals sets out to change our view of the medieval world. A historiographical examination of vassalage in medieval france. Certain vassals who held their fiefs directly from the crown were tenants in chief and formed the most important feudal group, the barons. Review reynoldss argument is detailed and impressive and generally convincingan important work and so. The tale of melibee sits at both the margins and the center of the canterbury tales. Medieval people, moreover, did not use the term feudalism, a neologism of the enlightenment era. Fifes were part of the feudal system in medieval europe. In this lesson, you will learn about fiefs as they related to the social structure. It offers a fresh approach to the history of medieval europe. In the most general sense, feudalism structured all of society around relationships between land owners and those who work the land. If the inline pdf is not rendering correctly, you can download the pdf file here.
Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Fiefs and vassals susan reynolds oxford university press. The medieval evidence reinterpreted by susan reynolds english 20 jun. Feudalism is a system of land ownership and duties. The medieval evidence reinterpreted, oxford, 1994, pp. Its academic view of fiefs and vassals became the basis for the sixteenthcentury interpretations of feudal institutions that have held sway ever since. Chaucer describes melibee as a murye tale, though modern readers often disagree. Offline computer download bookshelf software to your desktop so you can view your ebooks with or without internet access. With feudalism, all the land in a kingdom was the kings. The medieval evidence reinterpreted by susan reynolds fiefs and vassals.