Rodney Hilton was a renowned British historian who made significant contributions to the study of medieval history, including his analysis of the transition from feudalism to capitalism. Hilton's work focused on the social and economic changes that occurred during the Middle Ages and challenged traditional interpretations of feudalism. Here are some key aspects of Hilton's views on the transition from feudalism to capitalism:
1. Decline of Feudalism: Hilton argued that feudalism, characterized by a hierarchical social structure and the exchange of land for service and protection, began to decline in the late medieval period. He emphasized the importance of understanding the internal dynamics and contradictions of feudalism as key factors in its transformation.
2. Peasant Revolts and Class Struggles: Hilton highlighted the role of peasant revolts and popular uprisings in challenging feudal relationships and contributing to social change. He emphasized the agency of the peasantry and their struggles for greater autonomy, improved living conditions, and control over the means of production.
3. Shift in Economic Relations: Hilton emphasized the importance of changes in economic relations as a driving force behind the transition from feudalism to capitalism. He explored the growth of market towns, the development of a money economy, and the increasing role of trade and commerce in the transformation of medieval society.
4. Emergence of Capitalist Agriculture: Hilton argued that capitalist agriculture emerged within the feudal framework through processes such as the enclosures of common lands, the consolidation of large estates, and the growth of agricultural production for profit. These developments undermined the traditional feudal relationship between lords and peasants.
5. Urbanization and Guilds: Hilton examined the growth of urban centers and the rise of guilds as important elements in the transition to capitalism. He analyzed the evolving role of guilds in regulating production and trade, the emergence of wage labor, and the formation of urban bourgeois classes.
6. Capitalist Transformation and Continuities: Hilton emphasized that the transition to capitalism was a complex and gradual process, characterized by both continuity and change. He argued that elements of feudalism persisted alongside capitalist development, and that capitalism did not completely replace feudal social relations but transformed them.
It is important to note that Hilton's views on the transition from feudalism to capitalism have been subject to debate and revision within the field of medieval studies. However, his work has played a significant role in challenging traditional interpretations and contributing to a deeper understanding of the social and economic transformations that occurred during the transition from feudalism to capitalism.
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