Research Notes: Eastern Europe
Important People/Groups:
- Slavic tribes
- Byzantine Empire
- Mongol Khans
- Local nobles (Boyars)
Important Facts about the Development of Feudalism:
- Influenced by Byzantine administration and Slavic customs.
- Strong reliance on land and agricultural production.
- Central authority weakened after the Mongol invasions.
Important Dates:
- 9th-10th centuries: Rise of Slavic principalities.
- 1240: Mongol conquest of Kievan Rus.
- 15th century: Fragmentation into smaller states.
Important Places:
- Kievan Rus (Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia regions)
- Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth
- The Kingdom of Hungary
Social Structure:
- Hierarchical, with a monarch at the top.
- Nobility (Boyars) controlled land and serfs.
- Peasants and serfs worked the land, often bound to the estate.
Political Structure:
- Decentralized authority with local lords having significant power.
- Some princely states developed into kingdoms.
- Influence of the Orthodox Church.
Economic Structure:
- Agricultural economy, with manorial estates.
- Trade routes along rivers (e.g., Volga, Dnieper).
- Serfdom was prevalent, limiting mobility.
Research Notes: Western Europe
Important People/Groups:
- Charlemagne
- Feudal lords and vassals
- Knights
- The Catholic Church
Important Facts about the Development of Feudalism:
- Emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire.
- Strongly tied to land ownership and military service.
- Codified in the 9th and 10th centuries in France and England.
Important Dates:
- 843: Treaty of Verdun divides Carolingian Empire.
- 1066: Norman Conquest of England.
- 1215: Signing of the Magna Carta.
Important Places:
- France (particularly Normandy)
- England (especially during the Norman period)
- The Holy Roman Empire
Social Structure:
- Clear hierarchy: King, nobles, knights, peasants.
- Viscount and baron as titles for local lords.
- Serfs worked the land but had some rights.
Political Structure:
- Feudal system created a decentralized government.
- Loyalty sworn between lords and vassals.
- The king had limited power over local lords.
Economic Structure:
- Manorial system as the basic economic unit.
- Agricultural production with some trade.
- Use of coinage increased after the 11th century, sparking market growth.
Similarities and Differences between Feudalism in Eastern and Western Europe
Similarities:
- Both systems were hierarchical and centered around land ownership, where local lords provided protection in exchange for service from vassals or serfs.
- In both regions, agriculture formed the backbone of the economy, and the majority of the population worked as peasants or serfs tied to the land.
Differences:
- The political structure in Eastern Europe was often more fragmented and influenced by non-European powers, such as the Mongol Empire, whereas Western Europe had more centralized monarchies post-Roman Empire.
- The social structure in Western Europe often allowed for more mobility among the lower classes (especially after events like the Crusades), while Eastern Europe experienced a more rigid system of serfdom that tightly bound peasants to the land.
In summary, I believe the Eastern and Western European feudal systems were more similar than different due to their foundational structure based on land and service. Both systems exhibited a similar hierarchical organization and relied heavily on agriculture as the primary economic engine. However, the variations in political authority and social mobility highlight important distinctions influenced by regional historical contexts.
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