Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Feudalism.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Feudalism.jpg|right|frame]]

'''Feudalism''' is a form of [[political]] and [[social]] [[organization]] typical of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe Western Europe] from the dissolution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne Charlemagne]'s [[empire]] to the rise of the absolute http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchies]. The term feudalism is derived from the [[Latin]] feodum, for "fief," and ultimately from a Germanic [[word]] meaning "cow," generalized to denote valuable movable [[property]]. Although [[analogous]] [[social]] systems have appeared in other [[civilizations]], the feudalism of Europe in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] remains the common model of feudal [[society]].

'''Feudalism''' is a form of [[political]] and [[social]] [[organization]] typical of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe Western Europe] from the dissolution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlemagne Charlemagne]'s [[empire]] to the rise of the absolute [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchies]. The term feudalism is derived from the [[Latin]] feodum, for "fief," and ultimately from a Germanic [[word]] meaning "cow," generalized to denote valuable movable [[property]]. Although [[analogous]] [[social]] systems have appeared in other [[civilizations]], the feudalism of Europe in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages] remains the common model of feudal [[society]].

==Characteristics of European Feudalism==

==Characteristics of European Feudalism==

The [[evolution]] of highly [[diverse]] forms, [[customs]], and [[institutions]] makes it almost impossible to accurately depict feudalism as a [[whole]], but certain components of the [[system]] may be regarded as characteristic: strict division into social [[classes]], i.e., [[nobility]], [[clergy]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasantry peasantry], and, in the later Middle Ages, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess burgesses]; [[private]] [[jurisdiction]] based on local [[custom]]; and the landholding system dependent upon the fief or fee. Feudalism was based on contracts made among nobles, and although it was intricately [[connected]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial] system, it must be considered as distinct from it. Although some men held their land in alod, without [[obligation]] to any [[person]], they were exceptions to the rule in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages].

The [[evolution]] of highly [[diverse]] forms, [[customs]], and [[institutions]] makes it almost impossible to accurately depict feudalism as a [[whole]], but certain components of the [[system]] may be regarded as characteristic: strict division into social [[classes]], i.e., [[nobility]], [[clergy]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasantry peasantry], and, in the later Middle Ages, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgess burgesses]; [[private]] [[jurisdiction]] based on local [[custom]]; and the landholding system dependent upon the fief or fee. Feudalism was based on contracts made among nobles, and although it was intricately [[connected]] with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorialism manorial] system, it must be considered as distinct from it. Although some men held their land in alod, without [[obligation]] to any [[person]], they were exceptions to the rule in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages Middle Ages].