What system characterized the decentralized political organization during the Middle Ages?

The system that characterized the decentralized political organization during the Middle Ages is feudalism. This system emerged in response to the need for protection and governance at a time when central authority was weakened, particularly after the fall of the Roman Empire. In feudalism, political power was fragmented and distributed among a variety of lords and vassals. Lords owned vast lands and granted portions of their land to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. This relationship created a hierarchical structure where loyalty and land ownership were key components.

Feudalism was marked by its localized power dynamics, where each lord maintained a degree of independence based on their land holdings. This meant that rather than a strong centralized government, the political landscape was organized around personal allegiances and local governance. The nobility wielded significant influence over their own territories, while peasants worked the land and were often bound to it through systems such as serfdom.

In contrast, manorialism refers specifically to the economic aspect of the feudal system where lords managed a manor and its workers. Meritocracy, on the other hand, involves the idea that individuals are rewarded based on their abilities and merits rather than their social class, which was not applicable during the feudal period