The Feudal System

The feudal system was a social and economic structure prevalent in medieval Europe. It was based on land ownership and relationships between different classes. Kings granted land (called fiefs) to nobles in exchange for military service and loyalty. Nobles, in turn, allowed peasants, or serfs, to work the land in return for protection and a place to live. This system created a hierarchy: kings at the top, followed by nobles, knights, and peasants. It shaped society, often leading to limited mobility and economic dependence, as power and resources were concentrated in the hands of the landowners.