Ap European Feudal System

Feudalism was the main governing system in Europe and other parts of the world in the Middle Ages. Feudalism consisted less of a centralized governing power but instead was power over land or lands spread out through the nobility. The Feudal system dealt with all political and military affairs during the middle ages and had more of a focus on the business relationships held between two individuals of power. The 'feudal system' is the name for a power structure where people held their land in return for promising loyalty, known as doing homage, and providing services such as working or fighting for their lord" (The Feudal System and the Domesday Book). This is how the majority of kingdoms in Europe were ruled during this time. Only the wealthy
Feudalism involved the relationship between landowners, in which the most powerful landowners provided aid and protection to less powerful landowners who had enough wealth to own horses and arms. The less powerful landowners, in turn, owed allegiance and military service to the most powerful. The vassal, or noble underneath, gradually became identified as a knight, a warrior who evolved a highly elaborate culture and lifestyle. The knight’s prestige depended upon fighting, and knights justified their existence by waging wars. Many knights were descended from elites through the male line, and they maintained their power through alliances with other powerful lords (Goucher, LeGuin, and Walton 2). Because the vassals of these lords acquired power, land and arms and pledged military service, the lords were able to call on these vassals as their knights to assemble quickly and fight their battles. These deals between the two were considered sacred and both members had to agree to a contract, while the vassal took an oath of loyalty to that lord. Feudalism was based on contracts, or feudal oaths, pledges, of loyalty and service between a lord and his