Question

Describe the basic structure of feudalism and how this leads to a ""pyramid of loyalty.""

Answer 1

The relationship between lord and vassal which is at the heart of feudalism. The lord gives the vassal an income-yielding fief. The vassal does homage to the lord, formalizing the relationship.

The largest fiefs are those given directly by monarchs to noblemen or barons, who then subcontract parts of these fiefs to vassals of their own. Only in this way, sharing out both the benefit and the obligation, can the king's vassals be sure of bringing their promised contingent of armed men into the field.

A pyramid of loyalty is thus created, in which each man - except at the very top and bottom - is a vassal to one lord and a lord to several vassals. At the very peak of European feudal society is the pope. By the end of the 12th century the papacy has more feudal vassals than any temporal ruler.

Answer 2

In a typical Feudal System was a socio-political system that was based on the relationship between a land holding class and its dependents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social hierarchy worked as follows:

1. The Monarch held all the land in a country.

2. The Monarch distributed some land holdings among the nobility or 'lords' who would then provide the monarch with soldiers and knights during a war.

3. The lords would then provide a social class of knights, land and food for their loyalty

4.The lords would also lease out their land to the common peasant. In return, the peasant was guaranteed safety and some help in times of needs. This way a peasant was directly dependent on the lord.

5.The serfs were at the bottom of this social system and they had no money to lease land. They simply worked on a land in exchange for security and food.

The system originated in the 9th century but eventually became a rigid pyramid system, where one class was dependent on the other. As long as it worked for everyone involved, people were loyal to the system and dependent on each other.