The Rise of Feudalism in Britain:
The origins of feudalism in Britain can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when William the Conqueror presented a system that would shape the nation’s social and political landscape for centuries.
Feudalism was based on land circulation in exchange for military service and commitment. It produced a hierarchical structure where the King approved land to his most relied on nobles, who gave parcels to knights and vassals. The peasants worked the land in exchange for security at the base of this system. This system of mutual obligations guaranteed that power and resources were focused in the hands of a few. At the same time, the majority of the population stayed bound to the land and their lords.
Over time, this stiff social order ended up being deeply entrenched in British society, affecting everything from governance to daily life.
Explore how feudalism’s decline affected the development of contemporary Britain in the blog.