What was a significant characteristic of the social system during feudalism?

During feudalism, a significant characteristic of the social system was that nobles provided land in exchange for military service. This arrangement was fundamental to the feudal structure, which was based on a hierarchy of obligations and loyalties. Nobles, or lords, owned vast tracts of land and granted portions of this land to vassals (lesser nobles) in return for their promise to provide military support when needed. This relationship created a network of loyalty and protection that was vital for the maintenance of order and security during a time when centralized governments were often weak or non-existent.

The land, known as a fief, became the basis for wealth and power within the feudal system. Vassals not only had military obligations but also had responsibilities towards the peasants working the land, which reinforced the socio-economic structure. This system contrasted sharply with notions of universal suffrage, absolute monarchic rule, or merchant control of the economy, which did not align with the hierarchical and agrarian nature of feudal society.