the.com/feudalism
A medieval pyramid scheme where loyalty paid rent and land bought armies.
means A system where lords granted land to vassals in exchange for military service and allegiance, while peasants worked it.
from From Medieval Latin feudum, meaning fief or land held in tenure — itself likely from a Frankish word for cattle or property, back when wealth wandered on four legs.
Coined lateThe word arrived centuries after the system died.
Tidy mythHistorians doubt it was ever one neat system.
Service dueVassals owed roughly forty fighting days yearly.