Communalism and Feudalism – SS1 Government Lesson Note (First Term)

Communalism is a system in which land, the main factor of production, is owned collectively and shared equally among members. Feudalism is a system of government based on land ownership and control, in which kings granted land to subjects who worked for them or fought on their behalf in return.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define communalism and feudalism.
2. State the features of communalism.
3. State the features of feudalism.
4. List the merits and demerits of feudalism.
5. Explain how industrialisation brought about the collapse of feudalism.

What is communalism?

Communalism refers to a political and economic arrangement in which land, the major factor of production, is collectively owned. In a communal community, for instance, members pursue a common goal collectively, and properties like land are owned collectively and shared among members on an equal basis. In this system, resources are used for the general interest of everybody.

Features of communalism

1. There are no class systems; everybody cooperates with each other.
2. There is collective ownership of property.
3. No member is allowed to own private property.
4. Members of a communal society share a common culture and identity.
5. The means of exchange is trade by barter.
6. Everybody has the spirit of cooperation; they help each other in building houses, on the farm and so on.
7. Labour is not sold and there is an absence of exploitation.
8. It promotes collective interest and discourages individual objectives.
9. The community is allowed to operate with full autonomy and different identities.

What is feudalism?

Feudalism is a system of government based on land ownership and control. It is a primitive system of government practised in Western Europe in the Middle Ages, as land was owned and controlled by kings and emperors. The king granted land (fief) to his subjects (vassals) who, as part of their functions, had to work for the king on certain days or fight on his behalf.

Feudalism is a form of decentralised oligarchy (government controlled by a few people), based on land ownership. Political leadership was based on land ownership.

Industrialisation brought about the collapse of feudalism. Capitalists became influential, and the relationship between landowners and their serfs (servants) changed to that of capitalists and proletarians (labourers).

Features of feudalism

1. This system was based on land ownership.
2. The lands were owned by kings or emperors.
3. The land users (serfs) had to work and offer services to the king in return.
4. It was the duty of the landowners or lords to protect the serfs.
5. The feudal tenants had to give military assistance to the owner of the land.
6. The lords exercised governmental power (legislative, military, executive and judicial) over the vassals, who had no political rights.
7. There was a class system: the barons or landowners, and the serfs or vassals who had no land.
8. There was constant war and insecurity in the state.

Merits of feudalism

1. Feudalism laid the foundation for capitalism.
2. It instituted orderliness and avoided anarchy.
3. It provided the serfs with a level of security.
4. It gave the freed slaves limited freedom to enter into contracts with a lord.
5. It encouraged self-reliance and love for personal freedom among the big landlords.

Demerits of feudalism

1. The serfs were brutally oppressed and exploited.
2. The system gave rise to autocratic leaders who ruled the vassals as they wished.
3. Loyalty and obedience were owed to the landowner and not to the government.
4. The state was divided into semi-independent parts, so it could not act as a whole.
5. There was no national government.

Evaluation

1. Define communalism.
2. State four features of communalism.
3. What is a fief, and who are vassals?
4. State three features of feudalism.
5. Mention two merits and two demerits of feudalism.

Assignment

1. Why was there no national government under feudalism?
2. Explain the following terms: (i) a serf and (ii) a proletarian.
3. Differentiate between feudalism and communalism.
4. Why is feudalism no longer practised?