The Historical Conditions And Characteristics Of The Fief In The Medieval Western Europe

Fief was a very important system in the Medieval Western Europe. It was both an economic system and a political system, and also closely linked with the military system. Fief and Vassal system together constituted the basic connotation of western European feudal system. The natural economy was based on the agriculture in the Medieval Western Europe, the business was behind, currency in circulation was small, land was the most valuable property, those were the economic backgrounds of the producing of Fief; Caused by the savage nationality of long-term social instability and insecurity, and the decline of central authority, make private attachment becoming a social need. The above provides the Fief a social background. The Vassal system which gradually evolved from personal relationships provides a interpersonal background to the Fief. The contents of the Fief experienced a long-term evolution, by the original extensive type and the diversity of awarded objects gradually evolved into a condition that only knights subjected to military service to get a piece of property. The essence of the Fief was actually a source of economic interest. The main type of the Fief is land, but there are also many other types. Fief initially only enjoyed the whole life, but gradually evolved into a hereditary property. The succession of Fief also contains a lot of contents.The article attempts to analyze the historical conditions of Fief producing through three aspects of economic background, social background and interpersonal background, and also explores the meaning, evolution, essence, types and succession of the Fief.