The Collapse of Slavery and the Rise of Feudalism

This paper will discuss the economic and social effects of the collapse of traditional slavery in Western Europe during the Third through Ninth Centuries AD. The purpose of this paper is to show how this collapse led to the rise of feudal society in Europe during this time, with the serfs taking over the roles of the slaves.

Slavery was prevalent throughout the Roman Republic and Empire. Slaves were usually obtained through warfare, with captured soldiers and civilians being sent back to Roman cities and villages as slaves. These slaves were essentially chattels, goods which could be bought or sold at the whim of their masters. They had no right to leave their masters or choose their work and any children they sired or bore also belonged to their masters. A similar situation existed in the Germanic tribes of Europe, who also procured their slaves through warfare (Duby 31).

By the beginning of the Third Century AD, the Roman Empire was changing dramatically as a socio-political entity. The invasions by the "barbarians," the Germanic tribes in the north, were diminishing the control of the Roman governors over the outlying provinces. The chieftains of these tribes began exercising increasing influence over the inhabitants of these regions and even over the Roman aristocrats who resided in manors in these areas. The hardships which accompanied land travel in pre-industrial times prevented the Roman governors from reest

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o consolidate under the authority of a few kings, the lords of these manors continued to exercise considerable control over their regions, even to the point of challenging certain kings (Bloch 443). Christianity forbade the enslavement of baptized persons; thus, slaves during this period were usually non-Christians enslaved by the Romans or German chiefs. Their existence as slaves continued through the Eighth Century, until everyone in Europe was baptized as a Christian. Thereafter, the descendents of these slaves became serfs, legally free but tied to their lords. By that time, European and Church law recognized the rights of slaves to marry of their own accord (Duby 32-33). Free peasants began replacing slaves as the laborers of choice during this time period. Under Germanic tradition and law, society was based upon a body of free men. These men had the right to bear arms, participate in military expeditions, and share in the economic fruits of conquest. Free men also had the duty to assemble at various intervals to declare law and distribute justice, as well as to assist in community decisions concerning the exploitation of new land and the welcoming of newcomers. However, as the migrations into Roman territories beca

Category: History - T