You’ve Been Lied to About Feudalism

You’ve been lied to about feudalism. In this video, I’m debunking the biggest myths about medieval feudal society you’ve probably heard in school, in movies, or in the countless oversimplified history videos on YouTube. From the idea that medieval peasants were nothing but slaves, to the misconception that the feudal system was a rigid pyramid that looked the same everywhere, the truth is far more complex...and more interesting. Discover how medieval life actually worked, why peasants weren’t slaves, how social mobility happened more than you’d expect, and why the term “feudal pyramid” is a modern invention. We’ll explore England, France, Eastern Europe, and beyond to see how many different “feudalisms” really existed. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro: You’ve Been Lied to About Feudalism 0:44 - Why the Feudal Pyramid Is a Myth 1:29 - The Three Estates and Urban Freedom 2:02 - Medieval London’s Surprising Liberties 3:29 - John Ball and the Peasants’ Revolt 4:00 - Ministeriales: Unfree Knights and Social Mobility 4:38 - Peasants vs. Slaves: What’s the Difference? 5:30 - How Peasants Gained Freedom 7:52 - Why Feudalism Was Different Everywhere 9:09 - Ireland, Byzantium, and Alternative Systems 10:04 - Final Thoughts: Rethinking Medieval Society Works Cited Bloch, Marc. Feudal Society. Vol. 1, Translated by L.A. Manyon, University of Chicago Press, 1961. Harding, Alan. Medieval Law and the Foundations of the State. Oxford University Press, 2002. Hilton, R. H. Bond Men Made Free: Medieval Peasant Movements and the English Rising of 1381. Routledge, 1973. Jones, Dan. The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England. Viking, 2013. Le Goff, Jacques. Medieval Civilization 400–1500. Translated by Julia Barrow, Basil Blackwell, 1988.