Feudalism

Feudalism was the political and social system in Medieval Europe.

As a Political System
In a feudal system, a king would give a fief to a set of lords in exchange for taxes and support. A lord would in turn give land to vassals, or lesser lords, in exchange for taxes and support. Vassals gave land to knights, who gave protection to peasants and serfs in exchange for taxes and labor.

Manorialism
Manorialism was the economic system associated with feudalism. A lord lived in a manor, and all serfs were bound the property for life. A manor was self-sufficient, as the property contained everything needed to survive. If a manor was passed on to another lord, the serfs would stay bound to it.