Feudalism

Feudalism

A political and economic system that provided a solution to instability in Western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Oath of Fealty

A pledge made by nobles to be loyal and provide military support to the king in exchange for land.

Knight

A professional warrior who served in a lord's army, provided with lodging, food, and equipment by the lord.

Serf

A peasant bound to a lord for life, who could not own property or leave the lord's land without permission.

Fief

A vassal's source of income held from his lord in exchange for services.

Tithe

A church tax, typically one-tenth of annual produce or earnings.

Homage

A formal public acknowledgment of feudal allegiance.

Vassal

A person who held land under the feudal system, pledging loyalty to a lord in exchange for protection.

Fealty

A sworn loyalty of a vassal to a lord.

Manor

An agricultural estate owned by a lord, consisting of land, a village, and a manor house.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating crops in a particular field to improve soil nutrients and food production.