American Freedom's Feudal Beginning
Contents
2014/09/09 User:Jeff
Feudalism was the characteristic institution of the Middle Ages. It started around the end of the 11th century about the time of the First Crusade. Though it was a time when freedom was enjoyed only by an elite few, when villeins (serfs) were bound to the land and subject to both the justice and injustice meted out at the whim of the local lord, it also had its bright side. Feudalism, as it developed in England, represented an improvement in the life of the villein and planted the seeds of freedom that, over a period of 580 years, produced the United States.
In the dark time that preceded feudalism, poverty stricken villages were unable to protect themselves against marauders. Feudal society was an arrangement between Baron, knight, the Church, and the serf to bring protection, order, and rude justice to village life. It was far from liberty and equality, but it was a first step and was consistent with basic reasons for a people to submit to government and move away from anarchy. The serf received a large measure of stability and safety. In exchange, the surplus product of serf labor was divided among Baron, knight, Bishop and Abbot, who were, relative to the serf, a leisure class. Wealth accumulated in the hands of this leisure class and this created a demand for luxuries. From this grew trade, arts, crafts, and a middle class of merchants and tradesmen and the cities that grew as the result.
It was neither fair nor just - it was merely better than violent anarchy. Feudalism was a legal and fixed subordination of one class to others who dispensed with the product of the serf as they saw fit. It wasn't liberty and it makes today's society look completely egalitarian. But without it, life was lawless and violent. With it, there were still abuses of power and "law" was both local and variable, but the arc of liberty had begun its upward trajectory.
Feudal contrasts
With wealth accumulating in the hands of the
Notes
Chapter IV of Book 1 of Trevelyan (an important chapter): Pg 48 of Trevelyan discusses the necessity of a wealthy class as a prerequisite of moving from primitive society to democratic equality. The same arguments can be presented at any stage. And this can be coupled with Gilder's arguments.
And pg 49: Maitland: " . . feudalism means civilization, the separation of employment, the division of labour, the possibility of national defence(sic), the possibility of art, science, literature and learned leisure; the cathedral, the scriptorium, the library are as truly the work of feudalism as the baronial castle."
And: Trevelyan: " . . covering the years between that (Saxon) conquest and the coming of the Vikings, we must attempt the difficult task of appreciating the change of religion oas the first great step forward of the English people on the path of civilized life."
Christianity brought "the beginning, among the barbarians, of a political and legal civilization based on the arts of reading and writing in the practicable Latin alphabet"
- and so on . . .
The comparison of Anglo-Saxon worship of Odin and Thor with Christianity is instructive - but not very encouraging. Ponder why there was a great conversion to Christianity with its teaching of humility and charity and submission. There was the promise of a known afterlife - how to attain heaven and avoid hell.
