Feudal System in Medieval Germany

The feudal system in medieval Germany was a social and economic structure that organized society around relationships derived from the holding of land. Kings granted land to nobles (lords) in exchange for military service. These nobles, in turn, offered portions of their land to vassals (lesser nobles or knights), who pledged loyalty and service. Peasants worked the land and provided agricultural produce, often in exchange for protection and a place to live. This system created a hierarchy where loyalty and land ownership were crucial, shaping the political and social landscape of the time.