Define feudalism and it's features
Feudalism is a socio-economic and political system that emerged in medieval Europe during the 9th and 15th centuries. It was characterized by a hierarchical structure of power and land ownership, where the king or monarch held the highest authority and distributed land to lesser nobles (vassals) in exchange for military and other services. These vassals, in turn, divided their land and possessions among their sub-vassals, creating a pyramid-like structure of obligations and dependency.
Some key features of feudalism include:
1. Vassalage: The system was based on the concept of vassalage, where lesser nobles pledged loyalty, military service, and other forms of support to their superior lords in exchange for land and protection.
2. Land ownership: Land was the primary source of wealth and power in feudal society. The king owned all the land but distributed large portions to his vassals, who then granted smaller parcels to their sub-vassals and so on. This created a complex network of land ownership and control.
3. Hierarchy: Feudalism operated on a hierarchical structure, with the king at the top, followed by various levels of nobility and vassals beneath him. Each person in the hierarchy owed loyalty and obligations to those above them, creating a strict social order.
4. Fiefs: The land granted to the vassals by their superior lords was known as a fief. These estates often included farmland, villages, and the common laborers who worked there. Vassals held their fiefs in exchange for providing military service and other forms of support to their lords.
5. Decentralized power: Feudalism was characterized by a decentralized political system, with power scattered among numerous lords rather than concentrated in a central authority. This resulted in localized governance and the absence of a strong centralized state.
6. Peasants: The majority of people in a feudal society were peasants or serfs who lived on the land owned by the nobility. They were obligated to work on the land and provide labor, crops, and other resources to their lords in return for protection and the right to live on the estate.
7. Manorialism: Feudalism was often accompanied by manorialism, an economic system where land was organized into self-sufficient manors. These manors were agricultural estates that included the lord's residence, peasant dwellings, and various facilities for production, such as mills or workshops.
It is important to note that feudalism varied across regions and changed over time, so the specific features and practices could differ slightly depending on the context.