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Simple English definitions for legal terms
feudalism
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A quick definition of feudalism:
Feudalism was a system in medieval Europe where people were divided into different levels based on their social status. The people at the top were called lords and they owned land. They gave some of this land to people called vassals, who promised to protect the land and fight for the lord. In return, the vassals were allowed to live on the land and use it for farming. This system was based on the idea of mutual obligations and responsibilities between the lords and vassals.
A more thorough explanation:
Feudalism is a system that was used in medieval Europe. It was a landholding system where people were bound by their status in a hierarchy of reciprocal obligations of service and defense. The lord was obligated to give the vassal some land, protection, and justice. In return, the vassal owed the lord some type of service, called “tenure”. This service was the method by which the vassals held the property.
The social, political, and economic system of medieval Europe was also called feudalism. It was a system where the main social bond was the relation between lord and man. The lord provided protection and defense, while the man provided protection, service, and reverence. The service included service in arms. This personal relation was involved in a proprietary relation, the tenure of land. The man held land of the lord, and the lord had important rights in the land.
For example, a lord might give a vassal some land to farm. In return, the vassal would owe the lord some type of service, such as fighting in battles or providing food and supplies. The vassal would also have to pay taxes to the lord. This system helped to maintain order and stability in medieval Europe.