Feudalism in the High Middle Ages

Feudalism in the High Middle Ages was a social and economic system that structured society around relationships derived from the holding of land. Lords owned large estates and granted pieces of land, called fiefs, to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. Peasants, or serfs, worked the land for the lords and received protection in return. This hierarchical system created a web of obligations and duties, shaping medieval life, politics, and economics. It facilitated stability during a time of frequent warfare and decentralized power, as local lords often wielded more authority than distant monarchs.