Feudalism
Medieval social hierarchy
Feudalism is a medieval European system in which land was held in exchange for service and loyalty.
A lord granted land to vassals, who in turn owed military service and allegiance.
Peasants worked the land and owed labor to their lords.
The term now describes any rigid hierarchy of power and obligation: The company operates like feudalism, with executives as lords and workers as serfs.
Subordination to a lord
- lordNobleman or ruler
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- suzeraintyControl without full annexation
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
allegiance · homage · oath · crown · monarchy · nobility · aristocracy · kingdom
Landed aristocratic residence
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
- demesneLord's private estate
- titheTenth for clergy
- laborStrenuous effort; also childbirth
tribute · agriculture · peasantry · tenant · harvest · land · rent · obligations
Honored mounted soldier
- cavalryMounted military force
- castleFortified medieval residence
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
chivalry · armor · crusade · banner · siege · levy · mercenary · tournament
Of the Middle Ages
- Middle AgesEurope's feudal millennium
- CarolingianFrankish royal dynasty
- Norman1066 England conqueror
- Magna CartaCharter curbing royal authority
manorialism · decline · centralization · Renaissance · Tokugawa · samurai · daimyo · shogunate
Inherited social division
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
privilege · servitude · peasant · commoner · nobility · clergy · estates · deference
vassalage
Subordination to a lord
- lordNobleman or ruler
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- suzeraintyControl without full annexation
hierarchy · allegiance · homage · oath · crown · monarchy · nobility · aristocracy · kingdom · sovereignty
manor
Landed aristocratic residence
labor · tribute · agriculture · peasantry · tenant · harvest · land · rent · obligations · villeinage
knight
Honored mounted soldier
- cavalryMounted military force
- castleFortified medieval residence
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
warfare · chivalry · armor · crusade · banner · siege · levy · mercenary · tournament · lance
medieval
Of the Middle Ages
- Middle AgesEurope's feudal millennium
- CarolingianFrankish royal dynasty
- Norman1066 England conqueror
Magna Carta · manorialism · decline · centralization · Renaissance · Tokugawa · samurai · daimyo · shogunate · European
caste
Inherited social division
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
birthright · privilege · servitude · peasant · commoner · nobility · clergy · estates · deference · paternalism
Feudalismdemocracy
Rule by the people
republicanism · popular sovereignty · constitutional government · egalitarianism · representative government
Feudalismcapitalism
Private profit-based economy
free market economy · socialism · industrial economy · communism · market economy
Feudalismmeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
classless society · open society · egalitarianism · individualism · social mobility