What medieval system described rule where kings had limited power and nobles controlled estates?

• A. Absolutism
• B. Feudalism
• C. Democracy
• D. Oligarchy

Answer: (B)

Feudalism is the medieval system that fits this description. In this arrangement political power is built on land and personal loyalty rather than centralized authority. A king grants large pieces of land to powerful nobles (fiefs) in exchange for military service and sworn loyalty. Those nobles then divide portions of their land to vassals and manage estates themselves, collecting rents, dispensing justice, and mustering armies when needed. Peasants work the land in return for protection and a home. Because much of the power is localized in the hands of these lords who control estates and local courts, the king’s direct authority over distant regions is limited. This creates a layered structure where loyalty, landholding, and service define power more than a strong central government. This contrasts with absolutism, which centers power in a single ruler; democracy, which emphasizes rule by the people; and oligarchy, which is rule by a small elite not organized around feudal landholding and vassalage.