White's Medieval Technology and Social Change Chapter 1

White analyzes the origin of European feudalism. He first presents Brunner's theory that feudalism was an essentially military construct designed to support the development of a large cavalry force. Brunner tied together evidence about the growth of cavalry forces and the confiscation of Church lands to show that between the battle of Poitiers in 733 and the battle of the Dyle in 891 the Franks changed their military forces from primarily infantry-based to a heavy emphasis on cavalry. White supports Brunner's theory for the most part. White presents some counter-theories but he dismisses them as inadequately supported by the evidence.

White's twist on Brunner's classic theory is to posit a different motivation for the origin of feudalism. While Brunner theorized that Charles Martel developed a large cavalry force as a shield against the Muslims, White suggests that the real cause is the introduction of the stirrup to the existing cavalry technology. The introduction of the stirrup resulted in a great increase in cavalry effectiveness and a revolution in military strategy. White dismisses Brunner's emphasis on the Saracen threat by pointing out that Brunner mistakenly thought the battle of Poitiers took place in 732, not 733 as we now know. He also points out that the seizure of Church lands began in 732 (before Poitiers) and that Martel went on to consolidate his realm before turning his attention to the Saracens.

White goes on to discuss the origin of the stirrup in Asia and the clues as to its introduction into Europe. He goes to great lengths to counter any evidence that would seem to refute his timeline for introduction of the stirrup circa 732 AD He also links together archaeological finds that seem to show a development from a primitive stirrup-like device found in India to the stirrups that were found later in Europe. White's analysis is painstaking but seems fragile, based as it is datings that may be in error much as the date of the battle of Poitiers was.

White next discusses the social effects of feudalism and how it spread from the Franks to Spain and later (with William the Conqueror) to England. He shows how the great expense of maintaining a knight (horses, armor, weaponry, training) meant that military service became a matter of class, with lands and titles being exchanged for the commitment to serve as mounted warriors. The concept of the knight's duty to his lord translated into chivalry and noblesse oblige.

Copyright 1996 Gordon Zaft.