What was Feudalism?

In this video we explore the concept of Feudalism, a term invented in the nineteenth century to describe how society was structured during the high middle ages.
Music Credit:
Aquilia by Adrian Berenguer (Storyblocks license)
Image Credits:
The Battle of Crécy (1346) from Chapter CXXIX of Jean Froissart's Chronicles (Public Domain, Wikipedia)
Miniature by Pierart dou Tielt illustrating the people of Tournai burying victims of the Black Death (Public Domain, Wikipedia)
Medieval Market depicted in Nicole Oresme’s 15th century translation of Aristotle's Ethics, Politics, and Economics (Public Domain, Wikimedia)
Charles II by Anonymous, after Wright, John Michael (Public Domain, Wikimedia)
Storming of the Bastille, Jean-Pierre Houël (Public Domain, Wikipedia)
A Peasant Leaving His Landlord on Yuriev Day, painting by Sergei V. Ivanov (Public Domain, Wikipedia)
Debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament: © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

[@_maverick_50]

A fun fact: Kings, lords and knights often went to war with each other but never, ever would anyone of them dare mess with their blacksmiths.

[@Affekz]

Can you explain more? This is interesting!

[@_maverick_50]

@@Affekz Blacksmiths were responsible for crafting and maintaining their weapons and armour as well as various parts of fortifications (ie metal or semi metal castle gates). So people would never dare mess with their blacksmiths out of fear of the blacksmiths sending them to battle with faulty gear as punishment. After all, having your sword break suddenly in the middle of battle or armour being penetrated could easily be interpreted as "bad luck", "faulty usage" or "limits of technology" by your town's/castle's court... That is if you actually managed to survive said battle and return home to sue your blacksmith...

[@teledoink]

@@Affekz They thought that blacksmiths knew alchemy

[@cravenmorehead7717]

@@_maverick_50 well most of that is inaccurate since the majority of combatants in the Middle Ages never used swords

[@GAMER123GAMING]

@@_maverick_50 >Sue your blacksmith Hm

[@robertmoore8602]

This is a much better explanation than most popular yt vids on this topic.

[@HistoryHub]

Thank you!

[@TbLj____]

Wow, great video! The visuals and period art really helped illustrate the ideas. I appreciate also that they started with the simple view and then complicated it with the more nuanced contemporary view by historians.

[@repressedtears8568]

thank you so much, this video is super helpful. The visuals are easy to understand and it gives a lot of info

[@HistoryHub]

Glad we could help!

[@gardengnome2409]

Hits the spot perfectly. Many thanks.

[@alexsalsbury2927]

Did you have to take notes on this too?

[@esterisfun2333]

Teacher gave it to us for school homework, but I never thought to really enjoy this vid. Keep it up guy, and you will have millions of views. (Maybe :) )

[@aletheiai]

These interesting videos have pitifully few views.

[@tommym3617]

Yea but the majesty of learning about philosophy and history and contemplating what it means to be human pales in comparison to the d0peness of a Logan Paul vlog

[@aletheiai]

@@tommym3617 Sad, innit?

[@tommym3617]

@@aletheiai yes and no. I think a big part of it is that my generation (gen z) is over represented on the internet and we’re still teenagers so we enjoy loud crazy over the top videos but I think (or at least hope) that as we grow up and start getting interested in stuff like philosophy, the educational side of the internet will come more into the spotlight and will receive the attention it deserves but in the meantime there’s gonna be about 100 Logan pauls until we figure out life isn’t all about fast cars and nice houses. In other words the internet reflects the demographic that uses it most and hopefully as that demographic matures so Will the internet. There will always be content that’s catered towards brain dead teenage boys like me but hopefully one day educational content will outnumber that.

[@noahreeverts465]

I dont think this was supposed to be a roast, but still... ouch.

[@aletheiai]

@@noahreeverts465 What does your "this" refer to?

[@jimparsons6803]

Liked your clip. Already knew most of the story. With respect to present day Brits (note the narrator's accent), the then and there societal setup strongly resembled the previous setup of Feudalism. This from High School American History. And the main reason that much of the emigrates from the Old World to the New World. The major point of Feudalism is that your position in a society is either inherited or assigned. For those that know a little of the Roman Empire, this might sound like a repeat? Things that can make you go, 'Hmm?'

[@Foretelling]

We live in a Feudal society today. Just, instead of kings, lords and land… we have billionaires, millionaires, and organisations

[@TohaAnimations]

Lol

[@DarkMonster771]

Have you noticed that feudal and federal start with the same letter?

[@NoOne-hq9cp]

Been on a socage tenant since 1066,no allodiol title

[@gold_real_money]

That's called hierarchy. Without hierarchy, humanity would be destroyed like Cambodia in 1975-1979 during Khmer Rouge disastrous genocide

[@harrylee9289]

They have no honor.

[@swiftiequeen4u]

Perfectly explained. If you look around at our world you see a different type of feudalism. Thank you for this amazing video. I will share it

[@PsychicSploob]

As an American, Feudalism just sounds like home lol

[@whitesun264]

Although Feudalism declined after the black death, laws were introduced to prevent serfs leaving their masters land; for example they could only move at prescribed periods such as in winter. Whilst after the Black death there were fewer serfs, and so in theory they had greater bargaining power, laws were introduced to cap the amount they could be paid - thereby removing the advantage. Interesting that when the video refers to the continent the use of the term 'serf' is freely used, however the term isn't referred to in respect of feudal Britain. The word serf derives from the word 'slave'

[@binarydreams9]

So basicly serfs were litteral slaves.

[@edgychico9311]

​@@binarydreams9no but serfs are treated by their master in decent condition.

[@MutanersStudioOfficial]

Very informative I got this as homework from my history teacher

[@mikehayes8899]

Thanks, has opened my eyes

[@michaelplunkett8059]

You forgot. The Isle of Sark in the channel islands only ended in 2008.

[@moneylaundring]

Thank you for making this video.

[@sylvanamai-rashidateflehwo718]

Anyone using this to study for exams??

[@jasoncutshaw8401]

Incredible insight..I even use Feudalism in Civilization Revolution Xbox 360..

[@blazeyfam]

If we look nothing has changed. Just the names of 'kings/queens' become bankers etc.

[@Thurgor_Supreme]

It's kind of amazing how the greed of chasing wealth that doesn't even exist yet has collapsed societies and rebuilt power structures

[@CursedCommentaries]

LORD Rothshield

[@sdmoeti8769]

Thank you for the video. So much detailed

[@wakkilcoles]

No difference from today only the words and interpretation. It still the same concept.

[@TheApostelicPrincess]

It's just Proto Communism

[@JoelCarli]

Anarcho-capitalists: *furiously taking notes*

[@ryan.1990]

It works

[@SK0LDR1]

@@souventudubannedonly when societies are ethnically and culturally the same. Get a bunch of “we wuz”-ing if you try it anywhere today

[@CursedCommentaries]

​@@SK0LDR1thats true for any system.diversity is destruction

[@tundeuk]

Subscribed even though I was only looking for an explanation based on the word being mentioned elsewhere in an unrelated KZbin video

[@chimklee]

**plays the video** “whys there no audio” **turns up volume** *“FEUDALISM”* “AAAAAAHHHHHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHHHHHAAAHHHH”

[@Ic_truth]

I love how these past tense like it’s not still going on

[@sardaarjee459]

Very well explained ❤️❤️

[@Nucleite]

I saw a fief once. Stealin' me bread, 'e was!

[@SydneyAutumn-re5ck]

I am ashamed to admit that I laughed at this.

[@Zeyede_Seyum]

*Bring back Feudalism*

[@SlovakLutheranMonarchist]

Neo-fudalism is future, present and past

[@MomentsInTrading]

This was really interesting.

[@henrykkeszenowicz4664]

I think that that the fundamental idea of feudalism - decentralization of power - is the best idea ever to come up in politics.

[@nateallen8409]

Yeah that makes for a stable society but the lack of upward mobility, with generations of people born into de facto slavery is not good. For obvious reasons.

[@Sean-xy4hk]

Lmao

[@pixelprincess9]

@@nateallen8409 The king had the ability to create new lords at whim. It was not uncommon for someone of the lower class who served bravely in the military be given his own land for his service. Also neglected in this video was mention of the clergy. Peasants can and did enter into religious orders to be granted education and a life of quiet contemplation.

[@trpimirkarlovic838]

@@nateallen8409 It was not slavery.

[@matthewrolfe23]

Yes more easy to build a new village with feudalism ideology

[@mawisepicmsm9999]

so the kings gave land to the lower people and then the lower people gave land to the even lower people and so on?

[@andreavoigtlander1087]

i needed that for school thanks for that. (:

[@susiesourball]

How is this not the system we live in now

[@HisDisgracethe5thEarlofClownin]

I know! We threw away such a great system

[@cdistefanoone]

On a journey of storytelling and video exploration. With VideoGPT in my toolkit, my content now carries a subtle aura of professionalism that captivates viewers.

[@PhysicalTrainner-ku2so]

You are in which city ,😊please reply and what is your religioun 😅😊😢 please 🙏🥺

[@PatriciaGrondin-q6m]

Thanks a lot !

[@Ayingandtinay0701]

I'm here because of my history sub.😄 Finaly i have now an idea on how I start to write my summarization .

[@good_applegg2020]

Same

[@muraleekrishna5305]

Nice vedio I have one doubt Professional armies were made later Chief give protection in return for land How did the King get the land first

[@Germanalbanianman2]

Feudalism was based

[@db1816]

So what is feudalism?

[@jacobmarciniec]

Why do all these comments sound like generic, paid Google reviews? 🤨 Anyway... great, concise video!

[@randallstephens2273]

it's never really gone away... we just call it democracy these days...

[@dolly952]

Am I the only one who’s watching this for an exam? In my book it is very bad explained, the definition and the origin,etc. So I started watching this and after this video I almost knew everything from that page 0.0 Ty!!

[@biancaebbott2664]

I’m also watching this for an upcoming exam

[@xchazz86]

Basicallu how society is now 1000 years latter.

[@dastrio8435]

Sounds like capitalism but with fewer steps...

[@harveybeaver9731]

...and a lot more stable and self-sufficient.

[@v84lol]

... And even worse.

[@mh-tw4kx]

@@harveybeaver9731 bloody vassal/feudal feuds, rebellions, succession crisis, peasant rebellions, etc

[@melvinmayfield470]

Here, Here!

[@urchowmein]

TY this fo my workk

[@Fadarabmii]

thank you))

[@OBLODY]

Subscribed.

[@PhysicalTrainner-ku2so]

I am in Pakistan and my religion is Muslim boy 😊😅🎉

[@jaysant6958]

Hmmm what brought me here is wondering if this is a better alternative than what we have today especially considering the housing crises and how unaffordable it has become to many working people to just have a place to live.

[@Thurgor_Supreme]

Feudalism would fall apart about as instantly as it was implemented if we tried to do it in the modern day. Way too much worker opportunity and way too much liability for "kings" to be investing in a vast network of landowners. The real problem is that the free market isn't elastic enough to respond to the struggles of the working class and the government is too incompetent to step in and do anything about it.

[@jaysant6958]

@@Thurgor_Supreme What can be done about it? What would you do about it if you were the government?

[@Sean-xy4hk]

You want to bring back feudalism? Lmao

[@5ynthet1c]

In what way is feudalism better than whatever system we have right now?

[@digaddog6099]

@@jaysant6958 I've heard an idea where, since most houses are either being invested (often unoccupied) or actively used, we should tax the vacant houses to subsidize selling those houses or building new ones.

[@poonamdabas5424]

it was too good

[@sandeepsundriyal5938]

Thank You Love from India

[@tylerkeller8869]

I'd argue the lines of power & rule were much closer between Kings & lords than we think.

[@felipealexiscruz]

What is a king if he and his armies can be bought?

[@broomhilder]

@@felipealexiscruz usurped

[@CursedCommentaries]

A king was just the most powerful lord

[@TheHouseAlwaysWins20]

Imagine your economic system being so bad that Karl Marx himself praises capitlaism as an improvement

[@TheApostelicPrincess]

Later the people he inspired adopted the same system

[@mudkingmudman]

think abt it, theres no difference today than the past, we’re still dependent on our employers/country/government, don’t try to paint a narrative tht there is a difference in feudalism and today’s “democracy”, yall are blinded fr

[@QWERTY-gp8fd]

feudalism is when u die of dysentery cuz god allowed it so

[@GodofAbraham]

If that's what feudalism is it's still alive and well in USA.

[@HisDisgracethe5thEarlofClownin]

Haha I wish

[@BobAndTheKidz]

this is a good video.

[@Suryavanna]

The Revolution of 1789, hmmm which one could that be?!

[@KevinBrown-n7z]

Henri Garden

[@AlIegory]

We still have Kings and Queens.

[@imperator692]

What a moronic comment

[@anonomyx4559]

This greatly explains the government of the Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss universe (it's an animated series)

[@firstnamelastname5596]

😐😐😐

[@ElGatomems]

Not relevant.

[@SydneyAutumn-re5ck]

Never watched that, nor do I intend to. But I am using this to help better understand Tolkien's works. Anyone with me?

[@alecdshark]

Pov: Your teacher sent you here

[@MiraKumari-mc6vk]

🎉🎉

[@handler_music]

welcome to Technofeudalism

[@tariksaadeddine9339]

Thank you

[@iceshcratiote3635]

history on its own is being unattainable

[@crystalhenderson7200]

I got brought here trying to figure out how the current royal families make money…

[@oldreprobate2748]

This is where US oligarchy authoritarianism is headed.

[@harveybeaver9731]

Don't give them too much credit. At least peasants in medieval Europe had land an stable jobs and income.

[@pixelprincess9]

The average medieval peasant worked his lord’s land 30 days out of the year. If you pay 30% income tax and work five days a week that means you’re working your lord’s land 78 days out of the year.

[@lazarvladut3022]

@@pixelprincess9 how you calculated that?

[@Kittingiittung]

​@harveybeaver9731 imagine what it's like to not be able to eat meat and basically near starving every day

[@ryanlegere9356]

I love it new information

[@mh-tw4kx]

Learn this from CK2

[@aminnar6380]

more like.. what IS feudalism

[@bizarte24_]

imo, fuedalism ended with the founding of America.

[@aminnar6380]

@@bizarte24_ with the nepotism and all that I'd say it's thriving

[@shitsquirrel9]

@@aminnar6380 Whether it still is or not, one thing is a fact... there is a greater wealth inequality in American than in Feudalism.

[@charleslaurin2637]

FEDERAL means neofeodal states.

[@waldis3352]

Thanks It´s beatufull

[@reno239]

I LOVE FEUDALISM!!!!!!!

[@BrandonMcDonald-q2o]

Huel Fall

[@HisDisgracethe5thEarlofClownin]

Ah, the good old days..

[@yamameeven967]

More and more i feel like feudalism was better than capitalism...

[@darelljackson4132]

They would be just about the same in my opinion.

[@thieph]

Capitalism is about economy, feudalism is about politics. "Capitalism" is just normal human interaction.

[@mayasainiwewzsasairyttyyou9192]

Class 9th students watching this vedio 😂😂😅

[@chriszablocki2460]

Should I start a go fund me to get my tattoos removed, or is the quimsical mob low tide right now?

[@diptibadhai5512]

So basically does it means that the peasants have to work for the nobles..for which nobles will provide em' land..ryt?

[@Zainab-ou7wd]

Yes

[@conorvoigt6975]

Thank u my schlizzy no kizzy all glizzy

[@MiraKumari-mc6vk]

🎉🎉hii😊

[@st7028]

The original pyramid scheme

[@harveybeaver9731]

Only more sustainable.

[@SK-kh2rs]

@@harveybeaver9731 clearly not

[@harveybeaver9731]

@@SK-kh2rs Which do you think is more sustainable, infinite growth with limited resources, or finite growth with finite resources...and more stability!

[@SK-kh2rs]

@@harveybeaver9731 it don't matter what system we have. You going to cry and be at the bottom regardless. Some people are just born to be losers I'm afraid.

[@harveybeaver9731]

@@SK-kh2rs Good, and so will the same type of people who tried to blockade their own capitol with trucks, post on r/antiwork, or dismiss pineapple pizza as fake food. Feudalism would ensure they be kept at the bottom of the hierarchy. Only those capable of rising above his flaws can hope to have a place in feudal society.

[@PinkDratini147]

Jxjxkxkx

[@aafuture4667]

Fun fact: I am here for a module in Social Studies

[@geekmeee]

So how does White Supremacy fit in all of this?

[@sumreensultana1860]

Can i delete Fudelisum

[@harveybeaver9731]

Assuming you tied to spell that word correctly, no. It's a more stable system than what we got.

[@JoeBuck-uc3bl]

What is Feudalism? The future.

[@TheApostelicPrincess]

No 👎👎👎 Reject Communism Embrace Welfare Capitalist Democracy

[@jasoncutshaw8401]

​@@TheApostelicPrincess"It's simply not organized enough..the Bad outweighs the Good with Welfare programs, setting decent people up to take advantage of the system in turn drives the ECONOMY DOWN,PRICES UP, thus creating reliance on the Government and NOT being self-sufficient leading to Homeless populations larger than Major Cities also children in these environments realize Food stamps and Welfare checks can be received regardless will not set a High standardized goal of having a great education.." Jason Cutshaw

[@Ulyssestnt]

its a bit anachronistic to think in terms of national borders during feudal times.

[@gfwheelchairboy1292]

I like men

[@SydneyAutumn-re5ck]

SAME!!!11!!!

[@user-ju5is5bt2n]

Why does this video not mention capitalism as a cause for the end of feudalism?

[@HistoryHub]

Because feudalism was already in decline before the advent of modern capitalism.

[@user-ju5is5bt2n]

@@HistoryHub capitalism was the system that came to replace feudalism. Without mentioning it this video is dishonest.

[@nietzschesghost8529]

@@user-ju5is5bt2n As History Hub mentioned, feudalism was already in the decline before modern capitalism as kings grew less reliant on nobles to provide soldiers and thus had little incentive to grant fiefs to nobles. But also, it's not as stark a contrast as you imply. Feudalism can in fact be conceived as a primitive form of capitalism, and there have been cases of "company towns" being established under capitalism, and these company towns were essentially fiefdoms. I'm not saying capitalism is feudalism, only that there wasn't a definite cutoff between the two, but more like a fuzzy transition, with elements of the latter lasting well into the 20th century.

[@SK-kh2rs]

Plague ended it

[@citybeast1203]

Hello r u cool?

[@HistoryHub]

Yes :)

[@ogChaaka]

Abolished you say? Lol. 😂 Look around

[@EXPLAIN.8t]

I am from india

[@SydneyAutumn-re5ck]

cool

[@Michaelkayslay]

TBH this doesn't seem to bad. You gotta pay your debts!

[@DennisMartinezCalifornia]

Back to the kitchen

[@DaMemeManDan]

babaoreilybythewho

[@abdacnc3969]

Scotland was the feudal land !!??

[@harveybeaver9731]

Just Sarc Island where feudalism persisted until it was abolished in Scotland officially.

[@theratking2261]

pyramid scheme

[@harveybeaver9731]

A SUSTAINABLE pyramid scheme.

[@skywrss]

lol