European_and_Japanese_Feudalism

Compare/Contrast European and Japanese Feudalism Feudalism was based on the exchange of land for military service. It was a political system in place in Europe and Japan for many centuries and was used to rule large groups of people just like a democracy or a monarchy. Although feudalism in Europe began before feudalism in Japan, they were both very similar to one another. Feudalism in Europe began to form in the late 800’s after the division of Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire and the height of feudalism was during the 11th century and flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. Feudalism in Japan was not influenced by Europe because during feudal Japan, it was isolated from the rest of the world. Even though independent, Feudal Japan and Feudal Europe compare in their development of feudalism, their caste system of serfs, and their feudalistic system.  European and Japanese feudalism were similar because of the fact they carried out a need for protection. European feudalism was created to protect Europeans from outside invasions. Invasions from outside groups, such as the Vikings and Muslims, created problems for the lords. Europe’s need and purpose of developing a feudal country reflected upon the outlook of feudalism through the Europeans’ point of view. Japanese feudalism developed because of internal attacks by groups of uncontrolled armies and had more of a military characteristic. The decline of the central government allowed private armies to form. Japanese farmers that were subject to feudalism sought protection from their noble, and as a result, reflected upon the Japanese’ point of view on feudalism. Feudalism in both regions was based on a system of mutual commitment. Considering feudalism is based off the ownership of land, both Japan and Europe had landowning and non-landowning castes during the Middle Ages. Feudal Japan fell under a class system of nobles, warriors, and peasants. The highest of social status was the emperor, who played the role as a religious leader and had little political power. The top of the warrior class was the shogun, the military leader, and loyal to the shogun were the samurai and the ronin that followed. And at the bottom of the class were peasants, artisans, and merchants. In Europe, strict division of social classes-nobility, church officials, peasants, and serfs- were common to all feudal societies. The main ruler in Europe was the king, queen, or emperor. The nobility was essentially a military class, with the knight as the typical warrior. The caste system in both feudal societies illustrated who feudalism targeted in the Middle Ages. In both Japan and Europe, the rule was hereditary, except the shogun in which the position had to be taken by force. In Europe, obligatory relations were stronger than in Japan. In Japan, feudalism is characterized by strong familial obligations. In contrast to Europe, feudal relations between vassal and lord in Japan were highly irregular. In Japanese feudalism, a vassal can only have one lord at a time, in which one person would vest over to one lord and use all of that lord’s resources. In European Feudalism, a vassal obtained a certain piece of land through rights, so every lord that the land belongs to is that vassal’s lord. European and Japanese feudalism contrasted in some minor and some major differences that proves each government’s independence. Feudalism had a dramatic effect on Japan and Europe during the Middle Ages. Europe’s feudal system had a greater negative effect on Europe’s culture than in Japan. Serfs made up most of the population in Europe; consequently most of the population was not educated. Furthermore, Europe’s social class and centralization on monarchy disallowed a spread of belief and made Christianity obligatory. The effects that feudalism left upon Europe and Japan reflect on how they were unlike each other; and although the different backgrounds of Japan and Europe influenced the development of their own separate feudalistic systems, each country’s system had many similarities along with differences.