How (to which groups) today’s society can be divided and how it was divided in the past?
Feudalism is a system of fiefdoms, or social and economic relations based on the relationships between vassals and lords. (Feudalizm – średniowieczny porządek gospodarki i społeczeństwa opierający się na zależnościach między wasalami i seniorami.)
Estate – stan – groups of people, they have their own laws and duties.
Lords granted land (fiefs) and in return secured the allegiance (wierność), advice and aid (wsparcie) through military service, if needed, of their vassals. It could be laymen (świeccy) and clergy (duchowni).
The relationships between them can be presented in a graph called the feudal pyramid (ladder).
- The most important role in that social structure was suzerain. He was the most powerful one in this strukture.
Suzeren (suzerain, overlord) to osoba będąca najwyższym seniorem. Był nim najczęściej władca, który nie był niczyim wasalem (np. emperor or pope). He was independent. - The mesne lord was landowner, what was his power – he gives land to the vassals (benefice, fiefs). A feudal lord who was lord to his own tenants on land held from a superior lord (overlord).
LAND:
Benefice – beneficjum – a grant of land for life as a reward for services.
Fief – lenno -lands granted by overlord to his vassals.(ziemie nadawane przez seniora swojemu poddanemu).
Liege lord – pan feudalny, senior, posiadacz ziemnski, feudał = senior, overlord - Vassals (wasale) were dependent on him (lords, nobles). They was loyal to overlord and they kept order on their lands.
- Knights – provides protection on the land and serfs. They were vassals to lords.
- Serfs/Peasants – provides food and paid taxes.
Rent – Czynsz – stałe świadczenie wnoszone przez chłopów na rzecz właściciela gruntów w zamian za ich użytkowanie.
immunity – immunitet
commendation ceremony and investiture -komendacja i inwestytura
