1. Land and Vassalage:
Kings or powerful lords owned large areas of land, which they divided into fiefs or estates. These lords granted fiefs to lesser lords or vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty.
2. Feudal Hierarchy:
The feudal system created a hierarchical structure. At the top was the king or emperor, who granted land to powerful lords called dukes or earls. These lords, in turn, granted land to lesser lords like barons and knights. Each level of vassal owed fealty (loyalty and military service) to the lord above them.
3. Obligations and Privileges:
Vassals had specific obligations to their lords, including military service and attending the lord's court. In return, they received privileges, such as the right to collect taxes and administer justice within their fiefs.
4. Peasants and Serfs:
Peasants and serfs formed the lowest social class. They were bound to the land they worked on and owed labor service to their lord in exchange for protection and a small portion of the land's produce. Serfs were tied to the land and could not leave without permission.
5. Manorialism:
The economic aspect of feudalism revolved around manorialism, where each fief was largely self-sufficient. Lords managed their lands through manors, which were agricultural estates with a central residence and surrounding fields, forests, and mills. Peasants worked the land under the supervision of a lord's steward.
6. Castles:
Lords built castles as fortified residences to defend their territories and control their vassals. Castles served as centers of power and administration within fiefs.
7. Chivalry and Knighthood:
Feudalism also gave rise to the culture of chivalry, with knights as the elite warriors of the feudal society. Knights pledged loyalty to their lords, followed a code of honor, and were trained in combat.
8. Feudal Contracts:
Feudal relationships were formalized through contracts known as fealty oaths or homage ceremonies. These ceremonies involved rituals such as kneeling, placing hands between hands, and swearing loyalty.
9. Political Fragmentation:
Feudalism led to a decentralized political structure, with regions often ruled by powerful local lords rather than a centralized monarchy.
10. Gradual Decline:
Over time, feudalism began to decline due to various factors, such as the growing power of monarchs, the emergence of trade and urban centers, and the increasing influence of centralized bureaucratic systems.
In summary, feudalism was a complex system of land ownership, military obligations, and social hierarchy that shaped medieval European society and politics. It involved reciprocal relationships between lords and vassals, manorialism, and a decentralized distribution of power.