German Feudalism was a social and economic system that developed in medieval Germany, characterized by the exchange of land for loyalty and service. Lords owned large estates and granted portions of their land, called fiefs, to vassals in return for military support and other obligations. This hierarchical structure created a network of relationships among nobles, peasants, and the monarchy. The system was influenced by earlier traditions and the fragmentation of power following the fall of the Roman Empire. As local lords gained control, they provided protection and governance to their vassals and serfs, leading to a decentralized political landscape that defined much of medieval Europe.