In FEUDALISM, Joseph Strayer defines the underpinnings of the institution of feudalism and then, with the use of primary documents, elaborates on it's development and growth. He states that the basic characteristics of feudalism in Western Europe are a 1) fragmentation of political authority, 2) public power in private hands, 3) and a military system in which an essential part of the armed forces is secured through private contracts. Feudalism is a method of government and a way of securing the forces necessary to preserve that method of government. To Strayer, it was the political-military structure which made the society and age feudal, thus the attempts to use social and economic factors to define feudalism fall short in that such a template can be applied not just in the MA, but in many disparate times and places, which would not be of much use in historical analysis.
Strayer starts by detailing how armed retainers evolved to vassals and the origin of fiefs and subsequently feudal principalities. He details how the counties in France began to crumble as effective governmental entities and how the tiny castellany became the only working unit of government. He then details how the stronger principalities, such as Normandy, Anjou and Flanders maintained unity and developed into strong feudal states. He states how the economic and intellectual revival of the 12th century assisted in arresting the political fragmentation, but primarily credits the development of feudal institutions and customs into a system. By this, he means the fact that a governmental hierarchy among the politically powerful was developed and general rules defining the relationships between the members of the political class were made. The most important rule was the Theory of Delegated Powers, the theory that all political power was delegated from a higher to a lower lord. God to king, king to count, count to baron, baron to knight. Any subordinate could be punished by immediate superior if he did wrong. There were gaps in the system, but the theory justified existing powers and opened the door for new ones.
Strayer also details how the emphasis on personal service from vassal to lord was de-emphasized in favor of actual money, scutage and aid, which eventually led to taxation. Then an examination of the rising social and political influence of the knight class is examined as well as how the developing bureaucracy took away much of the administrative power of the lesser lords. He concludes with the aftermath of feudalism and the development of the feudal courts into parliamentary bodies. This is all in part 1. Part 2 contains over 50 primary source documents, almost all translated by Strayer himself, which help the reader to understand the context of the times.

Strayer's book is a response to Marc Bloch's Feudal Society. Strayer argues for a narrow definition of feudalism; a definition that can be practicle. His writing style is wonderful and lucid. Almost 200 pages of the book is primary source material. This book is definitely worth tracking down if you are serious about medieval studies.

The true mark of a genius is in developing an idea that, when put forth seems obvious, yet is an original idea. This book is Strayer's work of genius. Being so short, Strayer's book should be mandatory reading in the public school system. No one else has come close to explaining the unique origin of the state system in the modern West.

This book, as is well known, is a small classic among history books on Medieval Europe since its publication in the early 19seventies. There is a clear and distinct approach of rational government building in 11-14th century England and France, and how the modern state has roots shaped by the lessons and experiences of that time. Although the treatise is short, it is very clearly and concisely written. Obviously, the writer has deep knowledge of what he is talking about, and reading the book gives a stong impression that there is much more behind the analysis that he gives. The idea of more-or-less rational institutional building of government functions in middle-to late Medieval times does leave out a lot of other human elements shaping human governance at that time, while i got a distinct impression of the smoothness of the whole process overall. This seems certainly very debatable. Nevertheless, perhaps the sharp focus is what makes the book so very clear, informative and enjoyable to read. A definite must for any serious Medieval history buff...

Strayer mastered the art of distilling complex topics into readable extended essays. His book, On The Medieval Origins of the Modern State, is generally regarded as a minor classic and should be read by everyone with a serious interest in European history. The Albigensian Crusades is organized well, insightful, and written well. In this brief book, Strayer provides the appropriate theological, social, and political background, delivers a concise narrative of the Albigensian Crusades, describes the primary actors very well, and summarizes the remarkably significant consequences of what appears to be an obscure episode in Medieval history. The Albigensian Crusades were motivated primarily by the desire of the Papacy to extinguish heresy in what we now call the South of France. Drawing on the Crusading tradition, and greed, of the northern French nobility, the papacy set in train a process that destroyed the political independence of the indigenous nobility and did eliminate eventually the Cather heretics of the region. The unintended consequences were remarkable. The Albigensian Crusade became the conquest of the south by the Kings of France, whose real authority had been limited to the north. The result was the foundation for the modern boundaries of France and made the French monarchs the most powerful kings in Europe. The Albigensian Crusade and its aftermath largely destroyed the distinctive culture of the south. More urbanized than the north, tolerant of both Christian heretics and Jews, possessing distinctive legal codes and literary traditions, the south more resembled the nascent city-states of Italy than the feudal north. Strayer summarizes these differences nicely by giving the region a distinctive name, Occitania, and makes the astute comment that the region was a country without a state. To combat the heretics, the Papacy came to rely on a vigorous and ruthless Inquisition, with terrible future consequences. Papal reliance on Crusades to accomplish European political ends became a common feature of Papal policy over the next century, creating chaos in Italy and Germany, severely undermining the prestige of the Holy See, and contributing to the disorder and uncertainty that would generate the Reformation.
I read an earlier edition of this book without the afterword by Carol Lansing and can't comment on it.

THE ALBIGENSIAN CRUSADES by Joseph R. Strayer is really two books inside one jacket. The first book, by Strayer consists of a 174-page overview of the two crusades, one led by Simon de Montfort and the second under the auspices of the French Royals in Paris. The second "book" is an Epilogue by Carol Lansing, that examines heresy versus orthodoxy.

Strayer's book is about 30 years old, and while his writing seems mostly accurate, he is inclined to make generalizations some contemporary historians might not. For example, he says a necessary condition for the growth of "heresy" is a set of fluid economic and social circumstances that lead to uncertainty about personal well-being as well as exposure to people with different ways of thinking. In other words, material conditions go a long way toward explaining a diversity of faiths.

Strayer says the feudalism of the north (France) was virtually nonexistent in Languedoc (Strayer calls it Occitania) and primogeniture was not the hereditary rule. At the death of the father, properties were split up amongst the sons, and the wealth and power of successive generations diluted. Often, the loss of noble wealth and power was augmented. One means was to become a member of the Roman Catholic clergy and the other was commerce. The redistribution of wealth and power led to a new social order where the cities became dominant.

Languedoc, lay at the end of a main trade route that ran through Italy and into the East, and by 1200, the area was more like Italy with it's independent cities based on commercial wealth, than the feudal north with it's huge rural estates owned by landed nobility. New ideas and new people settled in Occitania, bringing diverse religious practices. In addition to the Cathars, the area was home to Jews, Mohammadens, and Waldensians. Roman Catholic clergy soon found their limited authority challenged, and one thing led to another until the Pope launched two crusades to eliminate "heretical faiths" that infested Occitania. Most of Strayers's account is about the subsequent Albigensian crusades (Albi was one of the "heretical" cities).

While Strayer does not address the issue of heresy, Carol Lansing's Epilogue (59 pages) is an essay on heresy. She says the orthodox Catholics were unclear about their own orthodoxy, so determining someone else was herertical was quite a task. She concludes that for the most part, heretics were condemned by their actions, not their beliefs.

She says the Waldensians were orthodox and should not be confused with the Cathers who really had a completely different religion. Waldo, the leader of the Waldensians would have been thought another St. Francis of Assisi had he been born during Innocent's reign as Pope. He had the misfortune to be born 100 years to soon and thus perceived as a threat. Although they were persecuted, Waldensians still exist today, and were probably the first real Protestants.

The Cathers believed in a dualist God and Lansing describes several versions of their theology in her Epilogue. Her account makes their tenets seem very confused. She says, "people wove together their beliefs, drawing on the teachings and practices of the Roman clergy, the Cather perfects, their own families, and their communities, as well as their own speculation and experince."

I found both of these "essays" raised and addressed interesting points and recommend the book for anyone with a serious interest in this topic.

An amazing book detailing the situation in 13th Century Languedoc / Southern France and the major players involved. It paints a great picture of the French monarchy in relation to southern France. This sets the table for most feared instrument in the history of the Roman Church - The Inquisition. A must for any one interested in Church history and the Crusades.