History glossary
Feudalism
a medieval system of land, loyalty, and obligation linking lords, vassals, knights, and peasants.
- Category
- Social and political system
- Region
- Medieval Europe
What it means
Feudalism is a broad modern term for medieval relationships built around landholding, protection, military service, and social hierarchy. It varied by place and time, but it helps explain how power worked in much of medieval Europe.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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From Pope Urban II's call at Clermont to the fall of Acre, the Crusades reshaped the medieval world through religious war, cross-cultural encounter, and lasting consequences for Europe and the Middle East.
