Examine the relationship between land and power in Feudal England. To what extent did the change of this relation created condition for the rise of capitalist transformation in English Society? (HI 364)

Feudalism is the system of structuring society around relationships derived from ownership of land in exchange of services and labor .This describes a set of reciprocal legal and military obligations among the warrior nobility, revolving around the three key concepts of the lords, vassals ,and fiefs(Francois-Louis Ganshof 1944).

Feudalism in Europe developed around 700A.D flourished up to the first quarter of the 14th century and declined until 1660s (Tenures abolition Act of 1660).Therefore feudalism can be described as a complete organization of the society through the medium of land tenures in which from the king down to the lowest land owners all are bound together by the obligations of services and defense .The lord had to protect his vassals to do services for him in return of the defense and services. The services based on and regulated by the nature and extent of the land held by one of the other (Erick John M.A 1998).

Therefore feudalism depended on land which had three major classes which are monarchy, clergy and peasants. The following are ways on how land signified power in feudal English society.

Land as a sign of wealth and prestige .In feudal English society a person who owned more land controlled power too in the society. Land at this time had a value compared to any other assert in the society. By that time the church and monarchy had strong influence because they owned a big land than any other class in the society. For example in settlements land determined the nature of living whereby ordinary men and women of the middle ages lived in very simple houses, sometimes no better than huts .They were built of woods often two large curved pieces of oak, called crucks formed the basis framing and walls might be filled with earth or mud in what was called wattle and doub construction. Roofs were frequently thatched with straw or reeds. Floor were generally compacted earth, perhaps covered with straw. Medieval houses were small and crowded, seldom mere than two rooms .Furnishings are sparse often consisting of no more than a few stools, trestle table and a chest. But the wealthier members of the society had larger mere substantial homes. Feudal noblemen needed great stone castles both for defense and housing their numerous retainers and servants .Originally ,these castles were mounted and protected by draw bridges ,portcullis and watch towers but by 15th C castle became more comfortable with large windows and fireplaces in their great dining halls and separate suites of rooms for their owners.

Land as the major means of production. This means that land was only the valuable item in English feudalism whereby the one owned the major means of production was very powerful in the society. Firstly the land was divided into three groups that is a church land ,manor land and the common land for example in the manor land the inhabitants of manor were the landlord his family and the people who maintained the manorial economy ,the serfs who by virtue of their services had used of the land granted to the land lord. The priest also attended to the spiritual needs of all people who lived on the manor .A manor was made up of manor house where the landlord and his family lived and a village where the peasants lived .So it is obviously that the class of land owners had influence in the society (Christine Carpenter).

Land determined the social classes. That there were three classes in the society according to the division of land that is manorial land which was under monarchy, church land under aristocracy and common land under peasant class .The pattern of cultivation was traditional and fixed. All arable land was normally laid out into two types of fields with the rotation of crops based on seasonal planting and half the field commonly left middle. Fields were divided into long narrow strips, some assigned to peasants some to the land lord and some to the Gods acre and set aside for priests (Christine Carpenter).Therefore the land was determinant value of social classes in Feudal English Society as the amount of land classified the people in the society from top to the bottom that is from king to serfs.

Land also determined the patterns of relationship in the society .That the amount of land described a hierarchy of power which constitutes the principal form of wealth and provided basis for political and social order as well as economic structure .Whereby the relationship dominance and subordination between those who claimed authority over the land and those families cultivated it. Therefore ,before a landlord grant land to the tenants he had to make sure that person a vassal at a formal and symbolic ceremony composed of the act of homage and oath of fealty, where the lord and vassal enters contract in which the vassal promises to fight for the lord at his command whilst the lord agreed to protect the vassal from external forces .Also vassals granted the land for the serfs who were obliged to pay a percent of their harvest and tithe to the priests for progress of the church programs .Shortly every class has its own obligation ,that is monarchy had an obligation of making sure there is enough land before, landlord granted the land to the peasants who played labor in the higher classes.

This is how land signified power in the feudal English society, the following is how this relationship created conditions for the rise of capitalist transformation in England;

Development of specialization and trade relations. Different activities that depended on land brought vital changes in the English society. For example, because of crop farming and animal husbandry people started travelling from place to place for the exchange of goods. In England church land, especially those owned by monasteries had pastures for large stocks St.peters abbey in Gloucester, for instance owned more than 10000 sheep in 1300 while the total number in England is thought to have been 15 to 18 million. By the end of 13th century, England was exporting more than thirty thousand sacks of wool a year nearly 6000 tones .Wool produced in England was made up into finished cloth in the continent, primary in Flanders and large quantities, of cloth were imported by the residents of the British Isles. Luxury fabrics of higher quality than those produced in England were especially popular with members of aristocracy.

Population growth as the result of land yields. Agriculture and other economic activities gave out handsome harvests that left the society with nothing much to worry about. This resulted to population increase and expansion became a necessary theme in British society. People cleared bushes and forests to establish settlements and farms since the population increased so rapidly in this period .For example the population rose from 13million people in the 13th century to 18million people in the 16th century.

Urbanization was another condition towards the transformation .Many existing towns and farming villages grew in size during the later Middle Ages. Most of them served as markets for agricultural produce and for those commodities that farmers could provide themselves. There also increased rural to urban migration. New cities rose like Liverpool, Bedfordshire and Lancashire. In some places like Chi Chester beautiful stone markets crosses were erected to provide some corner for transaction during the unfavorable weather. The largest cities were surrounded by stone walls intended to keep out intruders and ensure the safety of merchants and cities. Place names like Barbican Moorgate, York, Chester and Bishops gate still serve as reminders of the London city wall.

The Black death of 1348 to 1350 was one the conditions for changes. With the immense growth of the population this communicable disease erupted. Hundreds of people died thus even serfs became rare and expensive. This also changed people’s faith from depending on God to individual struggle. Because of this the vassalage system began to dwindle and pay way for tax collections inform of money or tributes.

Weakening of the decentralized system. Population growth, trade and specialization, urbanization and theological change led to the rise of bourgeoisie class. The power of the church was now compromised leading to the negotiations between the monarchy and bourgeoisie. This made the bourgeoisie to control the parliament. Ultimately all sub-states were joined to form one central command. Centralization aimed at developing a larger national market, creation of peaceful atmosphere, development of legal system, formation of national trade interests and development of national currency.

Generally, land played a greater role during the period of feudalism not only in England but also the whole Europe. Around 17th century Feudalism began to decline and a new system was emerging known as Capitalism. The transformation was triggered by internal and external factors towards capitalism. This covered aspects like social, economic, and political dimension. They include the rise of commodity production, development of centralization of power, the Magna Carta ,War of roses, English reformation, decline of absolute monarch and the rise of mercantilism.

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Francois L.G.(1944).Feudalism in England .New York. 

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