Feudalism (Noun)
Meaning
The social system that developed in Europe in the 8th century; vassals were protected by lords who they had to serve in war.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- Feudalism played a significant role in the development of European society during the Middle Ages, with lords offering protection to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service.
- The system of feudalism in medieval Europe allowed lords to control vast areas of land, with vassals sworn to serve them in times of war.
- In a feudal system, the king held the highest position of authority, while vassals were obligated to serve their lords in battle.
- The social hierarchy of feudalism placed the nobility at the top, with peasants and serfs at the bottom, forced to work the land in exchange for protection.
- The rise of a strong centralized monarchy eventually led to the decline of feudalism in Europe, as kings began to assert their authority over local lords.