What is feudal aristocracy?

Feudal aristocracy refers to a social and political system prevalent in medieval Europe, characterized by a hierarchical structure where land was held by a small elite class of nobles in exchange for military service and loyalty to a monarch. This system was underpinned by the feudal contract, which established obligations between lords and vassals. Aristocrats wielded significant power over their territories, often governing peasants and serfs who worked the land. The feudal system began to decline with the rise of centralized monarchies and the emergence of capitalism.