feudalism
Detail from the Heidelberger Sachsenspiegel showing the homage ceremony, in which the vassals put themselves under the protection of their lords by placing their hands between his hands, 14th century; in the Universitatsbibliothek, Heidelberg, Germany.
feudalism
social system
Also known as: féodalité, feudal system, feudality
- Also called:
- feudal system or feudality
- French:
- féodalité
- Key People:
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Coloman
- St. Oswald of York
- Magnus I
- Marc Bloch
- Related Topics:
- manorialism
- vassal
- thane
- liege
- homage and fealty
feudalism, historiographic construct designating the social, economic, and political conditions in western Europe during the early Middle Ages, the long stretch of time between the 5th and 12th centuries. Feudalism and the related term feudal system are labels invented long after the period to which they were applied. They refer to what those who invented them perceived as the most significant and distinctive characteristics of the early and central Middle Ages. The expressions féodalité and feudal system were coined by the beginning of the 17th century, and the English words feudality and feudalism (as well as feudal pyramid) were in ...(100 of 2361 words)