Chapter 21 Summary and Analysis

Since the sovereignal aspect of freedom dominates this era, historians have tended to downplay the role of freedom. Freedom is mainly the domain of the landowner, and sovereignal power means he can rule as he wants in his own domain. Most of the freedom granted is to communities or groups of guilds, not to individuals. At this level, elements of civic freedom exist. These rights or freedoms come in the form of charters. The serfs and peasants are constantly fighting for rights throughout medieval times, mostly paying monetarily for some of these rights. The king has the most freedom in terms of the sovereignal aspect of freedom.

This period is rife with rebellions. In the ninth and tenth centuries, there are peasant revolts. The lords try to exact more money from the serfs and peasants or in some way increase the...