Feudalism began to decline in the 15th and 16th centuries and was replaced by more centralized forms of government.Īt the top is the monarch, often a king. The feudal system was a hierarchical one, with the king or monarch at the top and peasants at the bottom. This system of granting land in exchange for service or labor was known as the feudal system. The nobles, in turn, granted smaller parcels of land to vassals in exchange for their service or labor. Under feudalism, the king or monarch owned all the land in a country, and he granted parcels of land, known as fiefs, to nobles in exchange for their loyalty and military service. It was based on the holding of land in exchange for service or labor. Feudalism was a social, economic, and political system that was prevalent in Europe during the Middle Ages.

In places like France and England, the people were feudal. Between 12, many of the modern states today were formed as powerful kingdoms replaced localism.

After the fall of Rome, Europe, specifically Western Europe, was dominated by smaller kingdoms and regional powers.