What is the main characteristic of feudalism?

The main characteristic of feudalism is the decentralization of political power. In a feudal system, authority is divided among multiple levels of lords and vassals, rather than being concentrated in a central monarchy. This arrangement allows local lords to govern their own lands and maintain their own military forces in exchange for providing loyalty and service to a higher lord or the king. This fragmentation of power results in a hierarchy that places significant political and military authority in the hands of local leaders, reflecting a system based more on personal relationships and obligations than on a centralized political structure.

Possession of land indeed plays a crucial role in feudalism, but it is not exclusive to the monarchy; numerous lords possess land and exercise various degrees of autonomy. Similarly, while trade can exist within a feudal system, economies during this period were largely agrarian, with many areas being self-sufficient rather than trade-based. The social structure of feudalism is also characterized by a lack of equality; social classes are distinctly divided into nobility, clergy, and peasantry, with significant disparities in rights and privileges among them. Thus, decentralization of political power is the characteristic that best encapsulates the essence of feudalism.