Feudalism

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Definition

Feudalism was the system in 10th-13th century European medieval societies where a social hierarchy was established based on local administrative control and the distribution of land into units (fiefs). A landowner (lord) gave a fief, along with a promise of military and legal protection, in return for a payment of some kind from the person who received it (vassal).

More about: Feudalism

Timeline

  • c. 1050 - c. 1250
    Feudalism is the dominant system of land ownership in northern medieval Europe.
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