What system of governance developed during the Middle Ages where nobles offered protection and land?

Feudalism is the correct answer because it describes a social and economic system that emerged in medieval Europe, characterized by the relationship between lords and vassals. In this system, nobles, or lords, granted protection and land, known as fiefs, to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. This arrangement created a network of obligations and allegiances that defined the political landscape of the Middle Ages.

The structure of feudalism was hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by powerful nobles, knights, and then peasants or serfs at the lowest level. This system allowed for localized governance, where lords exercised significant control over their territories and provided security and justice to those who lived on their land. The reciprocal nature of these relationships meant that a vassal's status depended heavily on their loyalty, military support, and the protection they received in return.

While other governance systems like absolutism centralized power in a monarch, and liberalism emphasized individual rights and government accountability, feudalism was distinctly characterized by its decentralized power structure and mutual obligations between different tiers of society in the medieval era.