Feudalism

Feudalism

The Meaning and Origins of Feudalism in Africa

Explain the meaning and origins of feudalism in Africa

Feudalism

Was the third mode of production but the second in exploitation of land. Feudalism is derived from the Latin word feudum which means a piece of land; it's so because this mode of production was largely based on land as a major means of production. According to Marxist feudalism came from the womb of the slavery mode of production because it bases on exploitation of the lower class.

Features of feudalism

Feudal rent:The feudal lords exploited the peasants through the payment of rent. This was paid in kind and in labour.

Private ownership of productive forces: Thisincluded land, tools, cattle and women who were privately owned by feudal lords

Agriculture became the major economic activity: Following the discovery of iron technology productive forces were improved drastically.

A Prognostic social class:This was based on exploitation of one class i.e. feudal lords of tenants or peasants.

Direct subordination of the lower social class to the upper class of feudal lords.

Division of labour and specialisation: Basedon gender and age

Inheritance:Created as a means to determine one's position in society according to birth, it determined who became a leader and who a subject.

Improved productive forces:Especially tools applied in agriculture and military warfare, this was brought about by iron technology.

Generally, African kingdoms such as Buganda and some forest states of West Africa, used means of production centered around either land or livestock-especially cattle-peasants could use the land freely but they were required to pay rent.

How Production was Organised under Feudalism

Explain how production was organized under feudalism

Under the feudal economic system, production was organised within the kingdom; people organised their activities on the basis of extended families. Each household head was responsible for the organisation of labour in his family based on social and material requirements. Labour was organised on the basis of age, gender and specialization.

The Merits and Demerits of the System of Power Sharing under Feudalism

Assess the merits and demerits of the system of power sharing under feudalism

Merits of feudalism

·         The rich supported the poor with food during drought and famine.

·         There was peace in the state as the rich classes maintained law and order

·         The societies were highly stratified, with each class of people knowing their positionknowing their position and role

·         Everyone had a means of earning the living because the landowners gave all poor peoplein the society a piece f land to cultivate.

·         The weak people in the society were protected by the king or the rich landowners forexample among the Rwandese, the Tutsi had an obligation to protect their tenants theHutu.

Demerits of feudalism

·         The rich exploited labour force of the poor

·         Only a few people in society owned land

·         There was inequality in society between the rich and the poor

·         The peasants were forced to undertake military duties and endanger their lives for their land lords

·         It encouraged inter-community warfare as landlords fought in order to increase their land and vassals

Basic assignment

1.     Explain the term social organisation and production

2.     Identify the types of social organizations and production that existed in Africa up to the19th century

3.     What is communalism mode of production?

4.     Identify the characteristics of communalism

5.     Show examples of the societies that had communalism up to the 19th century

6.     What is slavery and slave mode of production?

7.     Explain the features of slavery in Africa

8.     Show areas where slavery was practiced in Africa

9.     What is feudalism as mode of production?

10. Explain the characteristics of feudalism

11. Show societies in east Africa that had feudalism up to the 19th century

Explain the feudal relation (forms of feudalism) that existed in the following areas.i) Interlacustrine region of Lake Victoriaii) Indian Ocean coast of East Africa


Update:

FEUDAL MODE OF PRODUCTION (FEUDALISM).

The term feudalism originated from the Germany word “feud” which means fees. In this context fees refer to payment of tax.

Feudalism; was the third mode of production and second pre-capitalist mode of production based on exploitation of man by man. The economy of feudal society was based on private ownership and renting of land and livestock by the ruling classes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FEUDALISM
1. Agriculture became the major economic activity: Following the discovery of iron technology productive forces were improved drastically.

2. Payment of rent to the land lords; rent was paid in various forms.

Labour rent; existed in form of labour or service in which peasants (serf) were required to work for three days in week for the land lords.

Rent in kind: The serfs regularly had to deliver the quantities of his products to the land lords. The products could be in form of grain, cattle or vegetables.

Money rent: Was the system in which money used as a major means of paying rent.

3. Exploitation of man by man example peasants (serf) were exploited by land lords and the distribution of production was not equal. 
4. Little freedom to peasant; peasants were tired due to various restrictions as they were treated as children. 
5. Private ownership of major means of production such as land, mining sites, houses and cattle all these belonged to feudal lords. 
6. Division labour This based on age and sex where men specialized in military while women specialized in farming and taking care of children. 
7. Existence of classes; landlords as exploiters and serfs as exploited class.

8. Little surplus enjoyed by feudal lords.

9. Existence of strong political institutions in form of kingdoms and empires example Bunyoro, Buganda and Karagwe. Feudalism in Africa existed in various forms. Its nature depended on place in which it was practiced for instance societies that exercised feudalism were those found in the interlacustine region of East Africa, South Africa, West Africa and the North Eastern Africa.

10. Improved productive forces:Especially tools applied in agriculture and military warfare, this was brought about by iron technology. Generally, African kingdoms such as Buganda and some forest states of West Africa, used means of production centered around either land or livestock-especially cattle-peasants could use the land freely but they were required to pay rent.

FEUDAL RELATIONS/FORMS OF FEUDALISM

1. Nyarubanja system. In this form of feudalism the major means of production was land. Under Nyarubanja system in Buhaya and Karagwe there was two classes, that is the Batwazi (ruler) and Batwana (serfs). These two classes had to pay rent in kind and rent in labour services to the land lords.

In Buganda Nyarubanja system known as Mvunjo and Busulo, there were two classes that is Bataka (chiefs) and the poor people who rendered labour service and paid of their products to the land lords known as Bakopi. Under the system labour services provider was known as Akasamvu and part of their products was provided to the ruling class known as Obusulu. Bunyoro was the kingdom practiced feudalism in East Africa. The kingdom was divided into provinces known as Saza’s under chiefs. Also there was caste system in East Africa under this feudal system there was two classes which were Bahima (pastoralists) and Bairu (agriculturalists). Bahima who were pastoralists dominated and employed the Bairu who were agriculturalists. It was common in Rwanda, Burundi and Buhaya.

2. Umwinyi system was another form of feudalism found along the coast of East Africa. Wamwinyi controlled the productive forces such as land, serfs and tenants; also monopolized the political and economic power. The serfs and tenants were given land by Wamwinyi (feudal lords) to live on them in return of labour services and tributes which were paid to Wamwinyi. Before Arabs colonization The Mwinyi mkuu was the greatest land lords and ruled Zanzibar with the help of Shehe in Unguja and Diwani in Pemba.

3. Ubugabire system was another form of feudalism practiced among the Tutsi and Hutu in Rwanda and Burundi. The Tutsi (donor) also known as SEBUJA could transfer their cattle to the Ifutu (recipient) as sometimes known as BUGABIRE. The Omugabire and his family were obliged to perform several duties for the masters including house building cultivating.

4. Ntemi system: This was practiced among the Nyamwezi and Sukuma. The power of ruler was based on the control of land The Mtemi organized his people to open up new land wherever it was available. The process of opening up new land was known as Kutema.

MERITS OF FEUDALISM

The following are some of merits of feudalism;

1) The weaker people in the society were protected by the king or the rich land owners. For example, among the Rwandans, the Tutsi had an obligation to protect their tenants, the Hutu.

2) The land owners gave all poor people in the society a piece of land to cultivate. This way, everyone had a means of earning a living.

3) There was a piece in the state as the rich classes maintained law and order.

4) The rich supported the poor with food during drought and famine.

5) The society were highly stratified, with each class of people knowing their position and role. In this way, the feudal societies were very organized.

DEMERITS OF FEUDALISM

1) The rich exploited labour force of the poor.

2) Only a few people in society owned land.

3) There was inequality in society between the rich and the poor.

4) The peasant were forced to undertake military duties and endanger their lives for their landlords.

5) It encouraged inter-community warfare as landlords fought in order to increase their land and vassals.