Feudalism was a system of land ownership and social hierarchy in medieval Europe, characterized by the power of lords over serfs and peasants. There are several synonyms for feudalism, including: manorialism, a system of economic and social relationships between lords and peasants; serfdom, a situation where serfs or peasants were bound to work on the lord's land; fiefdom, a territory granted to a lord in return for loyalty and military service; and vassalage, a relationship of dependence between lords and vassals. These terms all describe the feudal system of medieval Europe, which lasted for several centuries and had a profound impact on the development of European society and culture.