Final answer:
A fief in the feudal system is a portion of land granted by a lord to a vassal in return for loyalty and services, leading to a social and economic structure centered around these land grants called fiefdoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fief was a portion of land granted to a vassal by a lord in exchange for the vassal's loyalty and military service. It was one of the key elements of the feudal system that existed in medieval Europe. The lord would grant a fief to a vassal, who would then be responsible for managing and protecting the land, as well as providing military support to the lord when required.
What is a fief? In the feudal system, a fief refers to a portion of land granted by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service, particularly military support. Feudal societies were structured around these land grants, which were also known as fiefdoms. The vassals, in turn, provided protection to the lord and could extract wealth from the peasants living on their lands. The fiefs became the economic and social units of medieval Europe, with power and responsibilities tied to these tracts of land. Lords could extend their ownership over land and rent it out, further establishing their economic control over the serfs who were bound to it.