Download Fiefs and Vassals: How Susan Reynolds Challenged the Orthodox View of Feudalism (PDF)
Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted - A Book Review
If you are interested in medieval history, sociology, or politics, you might want to read Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted by Susan Reynolds. This book is a groundbreaking work that challenges the conventional understanding of feudalism and offers a new perspective on the social relations of medieval Europe. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what the book is about, why it is important, and how you can download it in PDF format.
fiefs and vassals pdf download
What is the book about?
Fiefs and Vassals is a book that was first published in 1994 by Oxford University Press. It is based on the extensive research of Susan Reynolds, who is a distinguished medieval historian and emeritus fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. The book aims to reexamine the primary sources of medieval history and reinterpret them without relying on the concepts of fiefs and vassalage that have been dominant for centuries.
The main argument of the book
The main argument of the book is that fiefs and vassalage are not universal or essential features of medieval society, but rather a misleading lens through which historians have viewed and distorted the reality of medieval life. Reynolds argues that fiefs and vassalage are modern inventions that were projected onto the past by later scholars who were influenced by their own political and legal contexts. She claims that these concepts do not accurately reflect the diversity, complexity, and individuality of medieval social relations, which were based on various forms of lordship, homage, service, tenure, and loyalty.
The structure and content of the book
The book consists of three parts and twelve chapters. The first part provides a historical overview of how fiefs and vassalage became established as central concepts in medieval studies. The second part analyzes the evidence from different regions and periods of medieval Europe, such as France, Germany, England, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Byzantium, and the Crusader states. The third part discusses the implications of Reynolds' argument for understanding medieval politics, law, society, and culture.
Why is the book important?
Fiefs and Vassals is an important book because it offers a fundamental challenge to orthodox conceptions of feudalism that have been influential for hundreds of years. It also has significant implications for medieval history and sociology.
The challenge to the orthodox conception of feudalism
The orthodox conception of feudalism is based on the idea that medieval society was organized around a hierarchical system of land grants (fiefs) and personal bonds (vassalage) between lords and their dependents. According to this view, feudalism was a stable and uniform structure that governed all aspects of medieval life, such as politics, law, economy, military, religion, and culture.
Reynolds challenges this view by showing that fiefs and vassalage were not universal or essential features of medieval society, but rather a misleading lens through which historians have viewed and distorted the reality of medieval life. She shows that fiefs and vassalage were not clearly defined or consistent terms in the primary sources, but rather vague and variable expressions that could mean different things in different contexts. She also shows that fiefs and vassalage were not the only or the main forms of social relations in medieval Europe, but rather one of many possible ways of expressing lordship, homage, service, tenure, and loyalty.
The implications for medieval history and sociology
Reynolds' argument has important implications for medieval history and sociology, as it opens up new possibilities for understanding and interpreting the social relations of medieval Europe. By removing the lens of fiefs and vassalage, Reynolds allows the realities of medieval life to appear as they really are: more various, more individual, more complex, and perhaps richer than has previously been supposed. She also invites historians to reconsider the categories and concepts that they use to analyze medieval society, and to explore the diversity and dynamism of medieval social relations in their own terms.
How to download the book in PDF format?
If you are interested in reading Fiefs and Vassals by Susan Reynolds, you might want to download it in PDF format. There are several benefits of downloading the book in PDF format, such as:
You can access the book anytime and anywhere, without needing a physical copy or an internet connection.
You can save space and money, as you do not need to buy or store a hardcover or paperback edition.
You can easily search, highlight, annotate, and bookmark the book, as well as adjust the font size and brightness to suit your preferences.
The benefits of downloading the book in PDF format
There are several sources and methods of downloading the book in PDF format, such as:
OceanofPDF
OceanofPDF is a website that offers free download of books in PDF and EPUB formats. You can find Fiefs and Vassals by Susan Reynolds on this website by following these steps:
Go to https://oceanofpdf.com/authors/susan-reynolds/pdf-fiefs-and-vassals-the-medieval-evidence-reinterpreted-download/
Click on the button that says "Download Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted by Susan Reynolds PDF"
Enter your email address and click on "Send me a download link"
Check your email inbox for the download link and click on it
Save the file on your device and enjoy reading it
Internet Archive
Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library that provides free access to millions of books, movies, music, websites, and more. You can find Fiefs and Vassals by Susan Reynolds on this website by following these steps:
Go to https://archive.org/details/reynolds_fiefs_vassals
Click on the button that says "PDF" under the "Download Options" section
Wait for the file to load on your browser or download it directly to your device
Save the file on your device and enjoy reading it
Stanford University Library
Stanford University Library is one of the largest academic libraries in the world, with over 9 million volumes and 1.5 million e-books. You can find Fiefs and Vassals by Susan Reynolds on this website by following these steps:
Go to https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/2922090
Click on the button that says "Online" under the "Access Options" section
Login with your Stanford University credentials or create a guest account if you do not have one
Select "Oxford Scholarship Online" from the list of available sources
Select "View full text" from the list of available options
Select "Download PDF" from the list of available options
Save the file on your device and enjoy reading it
Conclusion
Article with HTML formatting ---------------------------- different regions and periods of medieval Europe. It is also available for download in PDF format from various sources and methods. If you want to learn more about medieval history and sociology, you should definitely read this book.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Fiefs and Vassals by Susan Reynolds:
What is the main difference between fiefs and vassals?
Fiefs are land grants that are given by a lord to a dependent in exchange for service or loyalty. Vassals are dependents who swear homage and fealty to a lord and receive protection and support in return.
What is the main difference between feudalism and lordship?
Feudalism is a modern concept that describes a hierarchical system of fiefs and vassals that supposedly governed all aspects of medieval society. Lordship is a medieval concept that describes various forms of authority and obligation that existed between different social groups and individuals.
What are some examples of fiefs and vassals in medieval Europe?
Some examples of fiefs and vassals in medieval Europe are: the king of France granting fiefs to his nobles, who became his vassals; the pope granting fiefs to his bishops, who became his vassals; the king of England granting fiefs to his barons, who became his vassals; the emperor of Germany granting fiefs to his princes, who became his vassals; the king of Jerusalem granting fiefs to his knights, who became his vassals.
What are some criticisms of fiefs and vassals as concepts?
Some criticisms of fiefs and vassals as concepts are: they are not clearly defined or consistent terms in the primary sources; they do not reflect the diversity and complexity of medieval social relations; they are based on later projections and interpretations of medieval reality; they obscure other forms and aspects of medieval society.
What are some alternatives to fiefs and vassals as concepts?
Some alternatives to fiefs and vassals as concepts are: lordship, homage, service, tenure, loyalty, patronage, clientage, benefice, commendation, contract, alliance, friendship, kinship, etc.
71b2f0854b