Final answer:
Feudal society was structured around a hierarchical system with lords and nobility at the top, vassals holding fiefs in exchange for military service, and serfs working the land. Over time, this system transitioned to a capitalist economy accelerated by the rise of the merchant class and impactful historic events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Feudal society was characterized by a strict hierarchical system grounded in land ownership and protection. In the ninth century, with the decline of centralized powers, this system became the foundation for organizing society and politics throughout medieval Europe. At the top of the hierarchy were the nobility, including kings and lords, who owned the land and wielded considerable power.
Vassals, typically knights or lesser nobles, were granted pieces of land known as fiefs by the lords. The vassals, in return for the land and the resources it provided, pledged to provide military service and other duties like advising the lord and attending his court. This pledge was called a pledge of fealty.
The majority of the population were serfs or peasants who worked on the fiefs. They were bound to the land, providing labor in exchange for protection and a place to live. The lower class cultivated these lands, while the upper class benefitted from the produce and military service. Over time, feudal law and codes of honor replaced Roman law and clan loyalties, signaling a shift in societal structures.
However, by the end of the Middle Ages, with the rise of the merchant class and the pressures of events like the Great Famine, Black Death, and the Hundred Years' War, the feudal system began to weaken. Ultimately, the social and economic structures of feudalism gave way to capitalism and the industrial era.