Feudalism was the dominant economic and political system in Europe during the Middle Ages, characterized by a hierarchical structure of lords and vassals.

The king was at the top of the feudal hierarchy, followed by lords, vassals, and serfs.

The relationship between a lord and a vassal was based on mutual obligations: the lord provided land and protection, while the vassal provided military service and loyalty.

Serfs were peasants who were bound to the land and provided labor and services to the lord in exchange for protection and a place to live.

Castles were primarily built to provide protection and shelter for the lord and his family in times of danger.

Homage was the ceremony in which a vassal knelt before a lord and pledged loyalty and service.

A fief was a grant of land from a lord to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty.

The manorial court was the system of justice administered by a lord in his fief.

Relief was the payment made by a vassal to a lord upon inheriting a fief.

Aids were the financial assistance provided by vassals to their lord in times of need, such as for ransom, marriage, or knighthood.

Scutage was the payment made by a vassal to a lord in lieu of military service.

Escheat was the right of a lord to take control of a vassal's fief if the vassal died without a male heir.

Wardship was the right of a lord to control the marriage of his vassal's heir.

Wardship was the period of time during which a lord had control over the fief of a vassal's heir.

Federalism is the system of government in which power is shared between a central authority and regional or local authorities.