European Feudalism
•“Feud” or “Fief”-an estate in land or money granted by a superior on condition of rendering him/her services in the future
•Several causes/definitions of feudalism:
–feudalism as a whole system of life-economic, political, cultural, and social-centered on lordship
–feudalism as political and legal, a type of government
•Weakening of central power within the Carolingian Empire led to an increase in power of local authorities