SOC 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Bourgeoisie, Barter, Proletariat
Document Summary
Refers to a form of political organization whereby lower-status nobility, consisting of knights and their families, owned military service to overloads or high-ranking nobility in exchange for the right to rent lands and manors from high-ranking aristocracy. Subject to absolute authority, will, and whims of the monarch. Commodity production and the growth of the marketplace. These estates were gated or walled and private armies were used to police and protect the lands from foreign invaders and neighbouring landholders. Peasants were organized into manors where they owed/paid rent and service in the form of labour to the nobility (also known as the aristocracy) Serfs stayed on the lord"s land, resigned to their lot in life as a result. Serfs had no alternatives, if they did no work the landlord"s land and have over their produce (or rent) they would not have anywhere to live. Played important role in enforcing the relationship of extra-economic coercion.
