History The Feudal System Questions Medium
The Feudal System was a social and economic structure that emerged in medieval Europe during the 9th and 15th centuries. It was a hierarchical system based on the exchange of land for military service and loyalty. At the top of the system was the king, who owned all the land and granted portions of it to nobles, known as lords or vassals. In return, the vassals pledged their loyalty, military service, and other forms of support to the king. The vassals then granted smaller portions of land, known as fiefs, to knights or lesser nobles, who in turn provided military service and support to the vassals. This system created a pyramid-like structure, with the king at the top, followed by the nobles, knights, and finally the peasants or serfs, who worked the land in exchange for protection and a share of the crops. The Feudal System was characterized by a complex web of personal relationships and obligations, with land ownership and military service as its core elements. It provided a framework for social order and stability during a time of political fragmentation and constant warfare in medieval Europe.