INTRODUCTION

The feudal system (feudalism) is a system of organising land use and society in the medieval
times, and was used in Medieval Europe and Medieval Japan.
THE ORIGINS OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM IN EUROPE AND JAPAN
The feudal system was introduced into Europe by a leader named Charlemagne who in the 8
th

Century used the system to control large areas of land in Gaul (France). Feudalism was dominant
in Europe by the 11
th
century. Minamoto no Yoritomo introduced Feudalism into Japan by in 1185
after he was victorious in Gempei War (1180-1185). The 17
th
century was Japans peak of power.
THE HISTORY OF THESE SYSTEMS
Some similarities between these two systems have are that both had several stages in developing
feudalism, and how feudalism influenced the decisions these nations made. Towards the end of
their feudalistic history, there were signs evident of the weaknesses in feudalism, (although each
set of events is different from the other). Some differences include the fact that Japans feudalistic
history was later than Europes feudalistic history.
The Crusades (1095-1250) was an important event in Medieval European history, where European
forces travelled to the Holy Land to claim it from the Muslims. They gained control of Palestine for a
while, but in the end the Islamic forces had recaptured all of the land by 1291.
The weaknesses in the feudal system are evident in 12
th
century Europe, because during the Black
Death Plague (1347-1350), the upper classes were abandoning the peasants to a plague-free
area. Feudalism was dominant in Europe until end of the 14
th
century. In 1789, a new law was
carried out which ended most of feudalism in France. It persisted in Germany until 1848, and in
Russia until 1917.
During the Kamakura Shogunate (1192-1333) the Mongols, attempted to invade Japan, but were
unsuccessful. Then the Japanese Middle Ages began. Firstly the emperor managed to reassert
his power over the shogun. Then Japan entered a civil war that lasted most of the 15
th
and 16
th

centuries. During this period the Portuguese; followed by the Dutch introduced many Western ideas
to Japan including Christianity. Eventually the Europeans were kicked out.
In the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1603), Japan united to defeat China, but was unsuccessful.
The Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868) was a time of artistic development which began when
Tokugawa Ieyasu was given the title of shogun. In 1870 feudalism ended in Japan.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE SYSTEM USED IN EUROPE AND JAPAN
Both systems were used for the same purpose. In both systems, the amount of land you controlled
was a symbol of power, and was lent from the upper classes to the lower classes, in return for
service, loyalty or tax. Both feudal systems were eventually abandoned and are not used today.
Both systems were different from each other. For e.g. in Europe the monarch controlled the power
(usually a king). But in the Japanese system, (especially in the Tokugawa Shogunate), the shogun
was the political ruler rather than the emperor. In Europe when a lord died usually his oldest son
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM: A PLACE FOR EVERYONE?
By Daniel Pritchard 8S
inherited the land, while in Japan a man chose the son who could take the best care of the land. In
Europe, women were considered to be weak but respected, but a samurais wife was expected to
be self-disciplined and tough. Knights didnt think education was important, while the samurai did.
In Europe, a monarch controlled the land, keeping some of it and giving the rest to the tenants-in-
chief (lords and bishops) in return for loyalty and support, (such as money, advice, prayers and
fully-trained knights). The tenants-in-chief kept some of the land giving the rest to the sub-tenants
(knights and lesser clergy), who in return served in the monarchs army or guarded the property of
the tenant-in-chief. The sub-tenants also kept some of the land. The rest of land was allocated for
the peasantry (serfs), who in return, paid taxes (crops and work).
In Japan the emperor and imperial family had the highest social status. The emperor was only a
symbolic position, he held no political power. The emperor and the imperial court were provided for
by the rest of society. The emperor had a life of luxury and even was worshipped.
The shogun was the political leader of Japan and would receive his economical needs in return for
protection and privileges such as a small portion of land. The shogun needed a majority of daimyo
to remain in power. The shogun controlled around 25% of the land, and the daimyo controlled 75%.
A rich daimyo could be a threat to the ruling shogun, so Tokugawa Ieyasu added restrictions onto
the daimyo.
The daimyo were the shogun representatives who ran the shoguns property according to the
shoguns rules. The power of a daimyo was determined by the size of the land he owned and the
amount of samurai he led. Their economical needs were provided for in the same arrangement as
the shogun.
The samurai was a warrior, loyal to a daimyo or shogun. They had no political power but a fairly
high social status. Their economical needs were in the same arrangement as the shogun. A
samurai without a daimyo was called a ronin, had low social status, no political power and
depended on others for economical needs. They sometimes were used as paid soldiers during civil
war.
The lowest classes were artisan, peasant, merchant as well as two outcast sub-classes named eta
(for e.g. butchery and burials) and hinin (for e.g. acting). The peasants (farmers and fisherman)
were 90% of the population and paid taxes (rice or work) to the shogun and daimyo so they could
remain on the land. The peasants produced the food for the nation and clothing material, which
made them more valued than the artisan. Artisans were craftspeople who created goods for the use
of the other classes. Merchants were considered unimportant as they lived off other peoples effort
and produce nothing of value.







PRIMARY SOURCES:
SOURCE 1
The source (left) is a visual source, an 1179 hanging
scroll of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the person who
introduced feudalism into Japan. This source is very
useful as it tells historians that Feudal Japan existed.
The perspective of this source is neutral, because it
just tells us the facts.
SOURCE 2

The source (above right) is an oral source. The oath of fidelity was an oath in Feudal Europe, where
the serfs swore allegiance to their lord, in return for protection and land. This source is useful as it
shows historians that an effective feudalism needed loyalty and service. In perspective, I think it is
in a positive perspective because it shows how people would sometimes benefit from feudalism.
SOURCE 3:


This source is a written source, displaying the execution of Louis XVI of France, who was the king
overthrown due to the French Revolution, where the peasants were displeased with the government,
which back then was feudalism. This source is useful as it tells historians that feudalism in the end
was disliked by the peasants. The perspective of this source is positive perspective for the people
as feudalism is not an effective way of organising society today.













Word Count: Report (pages 1-2) 998 (including headings and name)
Primary Sources (page 3) 202 (not including Primary Sources 2 + 3)
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