Feudal System Definition and Structure | Generated by AI
Question: What does “feudal” mean?
Answer:
Feudal refers to the social, political, and economic system that dominated medieval Europe (roughly 9th–15th centuries), and sometimes is used to describe similar hierarchical systems in other parts of the world.
Core meaning of “feudal”
A system based on land-for-loyalty relationships and strong hierarchical personal ties rather than centralized state power or money-based economies.
Key characteristics of a feudal system
-
Lords and vassals
A lord (higher noble) grants land (called a fief) to a vassal (lower noble or knight) in exchange for military service, loyalty, and counsel. -
Serfs and peasants
Most of the population were peasants or serfs who worked the land. They were not slaves, but they were bound to the land and owed labor, produce, and various fees to the lord. -
Decentralized power
Kings were often weak; real power lay with local lords who controlled their own lands, castles, and private armies. -
Mutual obligations
The system was held together by oaths of fealty (loyalty) and the expectation of mutual protection and support. -
Manorial economy
Most economic activity happened within self-sufficient estates called manors, where lords, knights, peasants, and craftsmen lived and worked.
Common modern usages of the word “feudal”
-
Historical / academic
→ “feudal Europe”, “feudal Japan” (though the Japanese system is not exactly the same as the European one) -
Figurative / critical (most common today)
→ Describes any system that feels outdated, hierarchical, oppressive, or based on personal loyalty rather than merit or law
Examples:- “feudal corporate culture”
- “feudal landlord-tenant relationships”
- “This country still has a feudal mentality”
Quick comparison: European vs. Japanese “feudalism”
| Aspect | European Feudalism | Japanese Feudalism (Shogunate period) |
|---|---|---|
| Central figure | King (often weak) | Shogun (military ruler) |
| Main warrior class | Knights | Samurai |
| Land grant term | Fief | Fief / domain (han) |
| Loyalty relationship | Lord ↔ Vassal | Daimyo ↔ Samurai |
| Time period (peak) | ~9th–13th century | ~12th–19th century |
In short:
Feudal = a decentralized, land-based, loyalty-based hierarchical social order, most famously associated with medieval Europe, but the word is now very often used critically to mean “backward, rigid, overly hierarchical”.
References:
- None (common historical knowledge)