In feudalism, political and economic elements merge seamlessly. The upper class controls the government, the production of goods, and the distribution of goods. Power is an offshoot and natural outcome of either being into the power born or through the granting of power contracts. Ordinary citizens work for the benefit of the upper class. The system is based on personal relationships, personalistic favors, and clearly defined hierarchies. As it is widely known, power means financial wealth, in either personal accrual or material resource backing by an external party. Undeniably, upper class means the possession of such power.
The three most distinct political characteristics of feudalism are the existence of a hierarchy that is present in politics, economy, and society, the control wielded by the upper class, and the granting of political and economic favors in exchange for the act of serving those in power.
Feudalism means the hierarchy of rank. To preserve these ranks in perpetuity, laws and customs are skewed in favor of the higher ranks. So, a man is exactly how his inheritance had been. The economic set-up of a feudal system, likewise, serves to maintain, sustain, and preserve the hierarchies. Loyalty and service are key concepts in a feudal system. As a system of political economy, the ultimate goal of feudalism is to guard the ownership of property.
History tells us that the feudalism of old died a natural death for the simple reason of stagnancy. Because the economic system was static where there was hardly any trade, no surplus of goods, and no opportunity for the greater many to accumulate wealth, feudal life offered poor physical mobility, poor social mobility, stagnant economy, and hardly any change.
The feudalism of old showed us that wealth which is not spread around becomes stagnant and ultimately unproductive, even for the wealthy. Stagnancy did it in.
Stagnancy kills it now.
Via TEAMS
