Difference Between Feudalism and Manorialism

Feudalism vs Manorialism
 

Feudalism and Manorialism are two systems of thought that showed some difference between them in terms of the concept and understanding. Manorial system concentrated on the organization of agricultural and craft production. On the other hand, feudalism describes the legal obligation of vassal to nobles. This is the main difference between the two systems of thought. Both of these systems were in practice during the Middle Ages. They were the answer for the numerous invasions Europe had to experience during the Middle Ages. Feudalism and manorialism made sure the country was safe and self-sufficient.

What is Feudalism?

Feudalism is a political system. It was based on the defense of the kingdom. During Middle Ages, due to the numerous invasions, the kings were not very powerful. They could not defend their territory effectively. So, as a solution to this problem, king as the owner of all the lands divided those lands and gave them to nobles. Nobles were the high-class just below the monarchy in a kingdom. Once they gained the land, they distributed this land among vassals, who were low-ranking lords of the society. As a result of the land given to them, vassals pledged their loyalty to the nobles and the military support in times of need. The estates given to vassals were known as fiefs.

Feudalism was legal in character. It supported legal, cultural, and political ramifications at the highest levels while dealing with the relationship between the Lord and Vassal. Moreover, Feudalism had to with the relationship between men of power. It started from the monarch, or the king, at the top to the knight, to the manor at the bottom.

What is Manorialism?

Manorialism was based on making the kingdom self-sufficient. Once the land was divided between the vassals or the knights, the lords gave permission to the peasants to come an live in a plot of land and to farm or to do whatever industry that they followed. As a result of living on the land that belonged to the lord, peasants served the lord by providing him with products, attending to him in his households, and doing whatever the lord wanted to. These peasants who lived in these plots of lands are known as serfs. The whole area of land that belonged to this particular vassal revolved around the manor of the Lord. Thus, the term manorialism came into being.

Manorialism was economic in character because Manorialism was an economic system. The system of Marnorialism survived at the individual level. Manorialism was otherwise called as Seigneurialsim. It talked about the society in medieval Western Europe and parts of central Europe and the organization of the rural economy. A knight was in charge in the manorial system, and he occupied the state or plantation. Manorialism dealt with the relationship between the serf and the Lord.

What is the difference between Feudalism and Manorialism?

It is interesting to note that both feudalism and manorialism are the offshoots of medieval life.

• Concept:

• Feudalism describes the legal obligation of Vassal to nobles.

• Manorial system concentrated on the organization of agricultural and craft production.

This is the main difference between the two systems of thought.

• Nature:

Another significant difference between feudalism and manorialism is the nature.

• Feudalism is legal in character.

• Manorialism is economic in character.

• System:

• Feudalism is a political system.

• Manorialism is an economic system.

• Relationship:

• Feudalism deals with the relationship between nobles and vassals.

• Manorialism deals with the relationship between the vassals, or the lords, and the peasants or serfs.

• Military Obligation:

• Feudalism comes with a military obligation. This means the vassal has an obligation to provide military support.

• Manorialism does not come with a military obligation. The serfs are only expected to serve the lord and the lord has to protect the serf.

These are the main differences between the two systems called feudalism and manorialism. Manorialism is contained in Feudalism in the sense that Feudalism deals with multiple manors. It deals with the relationship between landlords. Description of one landlord is manorialism whereas description of many manors is feudalism. As you can see, both feudalism and manorialism were created to protect the kingdoms during Middle Ages.

 

Images Courtesy: Roland pledges his fealty to Charlemagne and Ploughing on a French ducal manor via Wikicommons (Public Domain)