What is the seigneurial system?

The seigneurial system was a social and economic structure predominant in medieval France and parts of Canada, where land was divided into seigneuries or lordships. Under this system, a seigneur (lord) would grant land to vassals or peasants, known as tenantry, who in return provided various forms of labor, produce, or payment. It facilitated agricultural production and local governance, with lords maintaining authority over their lands while peasants worked the land and paid dues. This system contributed to feudalism, emphasizing reciprocal obligations between different social classes.