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feudalism
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Dictionary definition of feudalism
A system in which people were given land and protection by people of higher rank, and worked and fought for them in return.
"Feudalism was the prevailing socio-economic system during the medieval period."
Detailed meaning of feudalism
Feudalism is a social, economic and political system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was characterized by the presence of lords and vassals, where lords held land and vassals provided military service and other forms of support in return for the use of the land. Feudal society was organized around a hierarchy of lords and vassals, with the king or queen at the top and the peasants at the bottom.
Feudalism was based on the exchange of land for loyalty and service. The lords would provide land and protection to vassals in exchange for military service and other forms of support, such as labor and taxes. The vassals would then provide land and protection to their own vassals, and so on, creating a pyramid-like structure of lords and vassals.
Feudalism was also characterized by the presence of serfs, who were bound to the land and were not free to leave. They were considered a form of property and were controlled by the lords.
Feudalism was a dominant form of political and social organization in Europe from the 9th to the 15th century. However, it gradually declined due to various factors such as economic, technological, and social changes.
In short, Feudalism is a social, economic and political system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was characterized by the presence of lords and vassals, where lords held land and vassals provided military service and other forms of support in return for the use of the land, it was based on the exchange of land for loyalty and service, it was also characterized by the presence of serfs, who were bound to the land and were not free to leave, it was a dominant form of political and social organization in Europe from the 9th to the 15th century, but it gradually declined due to various factors.
Example sentences containing feudalism
1. Feudalism was a dominant social structure in medieval Europe.
2. Lords and vassals were integral components of feudalism.
3. Feudalism involved land grants in exchange for loyalty and service.
4. The decline of feudalism marked a shift toward modern societies.
5. Peasants played a pivotal role in the feudal system's agrarian economy.
6. Feudalism's hierarchy often led to complex power dynamics.
History and etymology of feudalism
The noun 'feudalism' has its etymology rooted in the Latin term 'feodum' or 'feudum,' which referred to a fee or a fief. This concept of a fee or landholding formed the basis of the feudal system. 'Feudalism' as a word itself didn't exist in ancient times, but its essence began in medieval Europe. The system was characterized by the exchange of land and protection between individuals of different ranks. In this hierarchical structure, lower-ranking individuals, known as vassals, pledged loyalty and military service to higher-ranking lords or nobles in exchange for land and protection. As this system took shape and became integral to medieval society, the term 'feudalism' emerged to describe this complex social, economic, and political arrangement. Therefore, when we discuss 'feudalism' today, we connect it to its historical origins in the exchange of land and loyalty among different classes of society during the medieval period.
Further usage examples of feudalism
1. Knights served as the armored backbone of feudalism's military.
2. Feudalism's rigid class distinctions hindered social mobility.
3. Feudalism's demise paved the way for new economic systems.
4. Medieval castles were symbols of feudalism's fortified power centers.
5. Feudalism's legacy continues to influence historical studies today.
6. The feudalism of Europe had distinct characteristics that set it apart from other systems.
7. In feudalism, land was the primary source of wealth and power.
8. Knights played a crucial role in the military aspect of feudalism.
9. Feudalism created a rigid social hierarchy with lords at the top.
10. The decline of feudalism paved the way for new economic structures.
11. Peasants often had limited rights and freedoms under the feudal system.
12. The feudal system was based on the idea of reciprocal obligations.
13. The lord granted land to his vassals in exchange for loyalty and service.
14. Feudalism led to the construction of countless castles throughout Europe.
15. Feudalism's complexity made it challenging to govern large territories.
16. The feudal lord's power was often measured by the size of their landholdings.
17. The feudal system allowed local lords considerable autonomy.
18. The feudal hierarchy determined a person's social status from birth.
19. Serfs worked the land and were bound to their lord's estate.
20. Feudalism underwent gradual transformations over time.
21. Feudalism's decline coincided with the rise of centralized monarchies.
22. The feudal system fostered a sense of duty and obligation among its participants.
23. In some regions, feudalism persisted long after it had faded elsewhere.
24. Feudalism's legacy continues to influence our understanding of medieval Europe.
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Suffix -ism, Social Hierarchy and Relationships, Tradition and Heritage, History and Nostalgia
drudgery,grind,indenture,servility,servitude,subjugation
bondage,enslavement
Synonyms for feudalism
Quiz categories containing feudalism
servitude, democracy, republicanism, egalitarianism
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