What system linked peasants to land and included a hierarchy of lords and vassals?

• A. Feudalism
• B. Manorialism
• C. Federalism
• D. Chivalry

Answer: (A)

Feudalism is the system that linked peasants to land and organized society around a hierarchy of lords and vassals. In medieval Europe, a lord granted a piece of his land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service. The peasants who worked the land—often serfs—owed labor and a share of their produce to the lord, while in return they gained protection and the right to work a small portion for themselves. This structure creates a clear ladder of obligations, all tied to land tenure, from the top nobles down to the peasants.

Manorialism is the economic side of estate life, focusing on how land and resources within a manor were managed; it supports feudal relationships but is not the overarching political system. Federalism is a modern concept about power distribution between levels of government, not a medieval arrangement. Chivalry refers to the knightly code of conduct, not the system connecting land, lords, and peasants.