Feudalism in Medieval France

Feudalism in Medieval France was a social and economic system that emerged around the 9th century. It was characterized by a hierarchy of relationships based on land ownership and mutual obligations. Kings granted large estates to powerful nobles (lords) in exchange for military service. These lords, in turn, provided land to vassals (lesser lords or knights) who pledged loyalty and service. Peasants or serfs worked the land and provided food, receiving protection in return. This system created a network of allegiances and responsibilities, influencing politics, economics, and social structures until the rise of centralized monarchies in the late Middle Ages.