Final answer:
The feudal system emerged in medieval Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and was defined by a hierarchy of peasants serving nobles. It declined due to factors like the Black Death, changing military practices, and stronger central monarchies which allowed increased social mobility and changes in socio-economic dynamics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise of feudalism in medieval Europe occurred following the collapse of the Roman Empire. This socio-political system was characterized by a hierarchy where peasants, also known as serfs, worked the land and owed rent and labor services to nobles in exchange for protection and the right to live on the land. The structure of medieval society saw a significant change after the Black Death, as the traditional feudal bonds between serfs and nobles weakened, leading to an increase in social mobility and the empowerment of monarchs and the merchant class.
Feudalism was a foundational system for the later political structures in Europe, but it faced decline due to several factors, including depopulation from the plague, shifts in military practices, and the centralization of monarchical power. These changes eroded the societal divide that was inherent to feudal society and allowed for transformations in the social and economic realms of Europe.