Was the inclusion of Feudalism in England from 1066 to 1087, beneficial or damaging to society?

1. Background

1.1. before the conquest

1.1.1. In the 11th century, King Edward the confessor had promised the English throne to many people.

1.1.1.1. idea of rivalry for the throne is seen here

1.1.1.2. These people are, Harold Godwinson, the earl of Wessex and his father had play a role in helping Edward become king. There was also Harald Hardrada, who was the King of Norway, was a descendent of a previous English king, Cnut. There was also William of Normandy who was promised the throne by both Edward and Harold Godwinson and evidence if this exists in the Bayeux tapestry

1.1.2. When Edward died Harold was crowned on that same day and both the suitors were angry.

1.1.2.1. Harald decided to wage war and William was held back by the wind. Harald was defeated by Harold at the battle of Stamford bridge

1.1.2.1.1. that was when William landed in the south of England and Harold had to rush his army back south but was defeated in the battle of Hastings. William took over.

1.2. Consequences after implementation of feudalism

1.2.1. England received a new royal dynasty, a new aristocracy, a virtually new church, a new art and architecture and, in official circles, a new language. By 1086, only half a dozen of the 180 greater landlords or tenants-in-chief were English.

1.2.1.1. The Crown itself held one-fifth of the land and a considerable percentage of the remainder was held by a few of William’s favorites, who had come with him from France

1.2.1.2. It has been estimated that about half the country was in the hands often men, most of whom were William’s relatives. The power and wealth of the country was held by a small Norman elite, and as if to demonstrate the change of management castles were built throughout the kingdom.

1.2.2. Within twenty years of the Conquest, they dominated all the shire towns and within half a century sat in virtually every settlement of importance in the country

1.2.3. William the onqueror also had to put down many rebellions

1.2.3.1. This had earned him a bad reputation because he was very harsh in handling the rebellions, with the harrying of the north being one such example

2. My stand

2.1. Yes feudalism was beneficial to English society from 1066 to 1086.

2.1.1. comparing point 1 and point 3

2.1.1.1. Before the Norman conquest, England was getting raided by the Scandinavians and the securing of society made sure that that was the last time England was successfully invaded up to now. This saved many lives.

2.1.1.2. Social inequality only led to Gender bias within society which led to women receiving very little opportunities.

2.1.1.3. However, when comparing this two factors, the former factor impacts society in a greater way as it saves countless of lives from being lost in vain through invasions.

2.1.1.3.1. whereas it was rare of someone to lose their lives due to gender inequality within society.

2.2. Comparing point 2 and 3

2.2.1. Before the implementation of Feudalism, slaves in Anglo-Saxon England were treated worse than animals with them being killed mercilessly

2.2.2. Social inequality only led to Gender bias within society which led to women receiving very little opportunities.

2.2.3. The abolition of slavery also saves countless of lives and helps give freedom to people who have been suffering for generations.

2.2.3.1. It also stops the inhumane acts done against fellow humans restoring humanitarian behavior in society.

2.2.3.1.1. When comparing this to the restriction of women's rights, the impact is far greater as gender inequality was not as cruel as slavery was to humans

3. Arguements

3.1. Point 1 = The feudal system led to a healthier and a more secure society due to the implementation of the manor system under the feudal rule.

3.1.1. The manor system is the system where and estate or society revolves around a manor house controlled by a noble.

3.1.1.1. laborers worked the land of the landowner in return for protection and the right to work a separate piece of land for their own basic needs. The hub of the community was the manor or castle – the estate owner’s private residence and place of communal gatherings for purposes of administration, legal matters and entertainment.

3.1.2. This system organized society

3.1.2.1. because of the fact that different parts of land was governed by different people who were all under the king,

3.1.2.1.1. made it easier to find issues and implement ideas

3.1.3. It also helped to give social stability,

3.1.3.1. Defence was much stronger with each manor having sufficient knights.

3.1.3.1.1. whose duty was to protect the commoners and serfs in return for part of the serfs’ produces.

3.1.4. Commoners were also happy

3.1.4.1. as each manor could have their own rules, approved by the king, and not a similar rule for the whole country.

3.1.4.1.1. This helped a lot because each manor could have rules that would be beneficial to their environment or the type of people living in that society.

3.1.5. Ultimately leads to the idea of a healthier society

3.2. Point 2 = The feudal system also led to the abolition of slavery and liberated almost all slaves.

3.2.1. Before the implementation of feudalism, slaves were sold for money

3.2.1.1. As Old English law codes make clear, slaves could be treated like animals: branded or castrated as a matter of routine and punished by mutilation or death; stoned to death by other slaves if they were male, burned to death if they were female.

3.2.2. More than 25,000 slaves were enumerated in Domesday Book.

3.2.2.1. Men had been enslaved through war, capture in raids, sale by their families in time of need, and as a punishment for serious crimes.

3.2.3. Individual manumissions were frequent

3.2.3.1. The church, which at first had confined itself to insisting that slaves and free men were equal before God, gradually set its face more firmly against some forms of slavery.

3.2.4. Manumissions in wills became common. Many nobles started using their will to free their slaves upon their death.

3.2.4.1. Between 1066 and 1086 the number of slaves declined in some places.

3.2.4.1.1. William I was ready to give secular support to recent ecclesiastical canons which forbade the enslavement of Christians and attacked the slave trade

3.2.5. This led to the idea of people attaining freedom in society

3.3. Point 3 = The feudal system restricted the rights of Women

3.3.1. Before the conquest, Women could hold, devise, inherit and sell land in Anglo-Saxon England.

3.3.1.1. in Anglo-Saxon England, English society allowed to women, not only private influence, but also the widest liberty of intervention in public affairs.

3.3.1.1.1. During this period women exercised considerably greater control over their destinies than did their female descendants after the Norman Conquest in 1066

3.3.2. After the Conquest and the implementation of feudalism, a married woman could no longer make a valid will without her husband's consent.

3.3.3. Women lost various rights related to landholding

3.3.3.1. This was because land was valuable, and because a woman was viewed as incapable of controlling land during her lifetime, she was deemed incapable of controlling it upon her death.

3.3.4. Women generally had little choice in the selection of a husband

3.3.4.1. This was because they were objectified and when, there was no male heir, women would be strategically married off to another family for alliances and the men would immediately take over the land.

3.3.5. This led to the idea of social inequality