Medieval Monasticism

Both monasticism and the war band were important to the development of mediaeval culture. Monasteries were centers of education. Much of what is known about antiquity is due to monastic preservation of ancient Greek and Roman texts. Religion unified empires. These spiritual centers became sources of political influence. However, more important than the development of monasteries to mediaeval Europe was the German comitatus. The comitatus set the foundation for the system of vassalage which would prevail throughout the Middle Ages. Political relationships during the Middle Ages were based on personal bonds between two individuals, such as the relationship between king and noble. Bonds of mutual loyalty were the basis of the German comitatus.

All their “bounty comes from war and rapine.” It was evenly distributed between the entire comitatus. In exchange for protection and loyalty against opposing forces, the chief guaranteed that after battle “all that has been taken [was] to be divided.” The development of the lord and vassal relationship became more formalized under Charlemagne. The association between nobles and warriors typically involved the exchange of military service. In exchange for loyalty, lords provided land. Land became the source of power and wealth. The king acquired support from the nobles by granting each of them a fief, or large plot of

Feudalism was based largely off of the concept of the comitatus, or war band. Its key institutions included lordship and vassalage. Vassals provided unwavering loyalty and military service in exchange for a grant of land called a fief. This “system” was heavily rooted in the war bands of the Germanic tribes of the first century. In exchange for war booty, warriors would pledge service to seasoned chieftains. The comitatus influenced political relationships and set the militaristic tone that prevailed throughout the Middle