Fee

Rise of Feudalism Early Middle Ages Main Idea Feudalism rose up in Europe as a way for people to protect themselves from Vikings, Muslim invaders, and other barbarian invaders. Words Worth Knowing Feudalism - the dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the Crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection. Lord ? Landowner, usually a king or high official Vassal - Someone given land by the lord in exchange for military service and taxes Knight - a highly-trained mounted warrior who fights for a vassal