Final answer:
The pillage and gift system was integral to the feudal society, as it provided nobles with military support from vassals in return for land, established deep-rooted social ties, and later facilitated a manorial system that further consolidated their wealth and power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pillage and gift system was useful to nobles during the Middle Ages as it formed the basis of the feudal society's economic and political structure. Nobles, who were landowners, granted pieces of land called fiefs to their vassals in exchange for military service. This hierarchical system of power and protection was pivotal as it provided the nobility with a source of wealth and an assurance of loyalty from their vassals. Additionally, the gift system helped in establishing mutual dependence and relationships between various classes, including between the monarchs and the nobles, which was essential for maintaining the social order and the stability of their realms.
Nobles often had more land, wealth, and power than the king, which made them powerful enough to challenge royal authority. This imbalance spurred on monarchs to consolidate power over the centuries, utilizing marriages, gift exchanges, and alliances with the Church to strengthen their position. As time progressed, the aristocracy gained more control over land and resources, segueing back into a more manorial system of self-sufficiency, where aristocrats and temples managed their own production and distribution, minimizing the need for trade and bolstering their economic stability.