Feudalism was a social and economic system prevalent in medieval Europe, primarily characterized by the exchange of land for loyalty and military service. Its primary purpose was to provide a structure for political and military organization during a time when centralized power was weak and external threats were frequent. The feudal hierarchy consisted of four main social groups: the king, nobles (or lords), knights, and peasants (or serfs). The king was at the top of the feudal pyramid, granting land to nobles in exchange for loyalty and support. Below the nobles were knights, who were granted smaller parcels of land (fiefs) to provide military service to the nobles in return. The lowest group consisted of peasants, who worked the land and provided food and labor, often in exchange for protection from their lords.
Focusing on the nobles, they played a crucial role in maintaining order and defense; they were both landowners and feudal lords who governed peasants and provided knights for military service. For instance, a noble would grant land to a knight in exchange for military loyalty, while the knight, in turn, would protect the peasants working the land in exchange for their agricultural output. This interconnectedness was vital, as the stability of the entire system relied on the relationship between these groups: the nobles' land ensured knights had fiefs for loyalty, while knights' protection allowed peasants to work the land without fear of raiders.
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