Feudal states were political systems that emerged in medieval Europe, characterized by a hierarchy of lords and vassals. In this system, a king granted land to nobles, who in return provided military service and loyalty. The nobles, or lords, would then grant portions of their land to lesser nobles or knights, creating a network of obligations and protection. Peasants, or serfs, worked the land and were bound to it, providing food and labor in exchange for protection from their lords. This structure created a self-sufficient economy, where each feudal state operated independently, with its own laws and customs, often centered around a manor or castle.