Feudal segregation

Date and country of first publication

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Definition

Feudal segregation refers to the societal division and separation of social classes in a feudal system.

During the medieval period, feudalism was a social and economic system prevalent in Europe, characterized by a strict hierarchy of classes. At the top of the hierarchy were the monarch and nobility, who owned land and controlled the labor of serfs or peasants. The serfs were bound to the land and worked for the nobles in exchange for protection and the right to live on the land.

In this system, social mobility was almost non-existent, and people were born into their social classes. Feudal segregation ensured that individuals from different social classes were kept separate and had limited interaction with each other. Social interactions, rights, privileges, and even living areas were often determined by social class.

The nobility lived in castles or manors, usually located in their own designated areas, which were separated from the areas where serfs lived and worked. The living conditions and quality of life were vastly different between the nobility and serfs.

Feudal segregation also extended to other aspects of life, such as education. The nobility had access to education and often received instruction in various subjects, including etiquette, combat, and politics. Meanwhile, serfs had little or no access to education and had limited opportunities for advancement.

Overall, feudal segregation was an inherent aspect of the feudal system, maintaining the power and dominance of the ruling class while keeping others in subservient positions, reinforcing social and economic inequality.

Notes

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Further reading

Erhan Bağcı Ş. (2015) Decline of meritocracy: Neo feudal segregation in Turkey. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies, 13(2), 348-370. Institute for Education Policy Studies.[1]