Which term describes the medieval political system of landholding and agriculture involving lords and vassals?

• A. Primogeniture
• B. Inquisition
• C. Feudalism
• D. Manorialism

Answer: (C)

Feudalism describes the medieval system of landholding and reciprocal obligations binding lords, vassals, and the king through the grant of land (a fief) in exchange for military service and loyalty. In this arrangement, a higher noble grants land to a vassal, who in return pledges homage and service, often supplying knights and military support when needed. The land itself becomes the source of power and income, with duties attached to its control, while peasants or serfs work the estate to sustain production and support the lord and his vassal. This framework is broader than the specific rural economy it governs, which is where manorialism comes in—manorialism focuses on the day-to-day management and production within a manor, whereas feudalism names the political and military network formed by land tenure and obligations. Primogeniture deals with who inherits property—usually the eldest son—rather than the system of lord-vassal ties. An inquisition is a church or royal inquiry or court, not the political arrangement linking lords and vassals to land. Thus, the term feudalism best captures the described system.